1. Polling Places -Polling Places -precinct based -Usually in schools, town halls, public places -open early and close late 7-7 or 8-8

2. General Elections -Elections are controlled by the local Board of Elections -General Election held November--1 st Tuesday after 1 st Monday -Plurality---winning the most votes -majority---getting more than half of the votes winner-take-all -most popular votes (plurality) wins most elections -majority of electoral votes determine the winner of the Presidency

3. Voting on Issues -Initiatives -method where citizens propose a bill through a petition and place it on the ballot for a general election vote -Referendums -method of public approval for a proposed bill where the legislature temporarily passes a bill until the public is given a chance to approve or disapprove the bill

4. Casting Your Vote -must go to the polling place -I.D. is checked against list of registered voters -cast your vote pg 314-315 paper ballots still used in some states lever machines click a lever next to your choice punch cards often misread, “hanging chads” computer upgrading to this in many states -you may encounter an exit poll Sample of voters leaving polling places and how they voted

5. Types of Votes -Straight Ticket -voting only for one political party -Split Ticket -voting for candidates from either party -Absentee Ballot Citizens who cannot get to the polls on election day Ex: out of town, illness, military service, Peace Corps etc. -Write-In Votes

6. Special Kinds of Elections -Referendums- approve or reject a state or local law referred-sent back to voters -Initiatives- propose new laws or state constitutional amendments -Recounts disputed election (close) can be resolved in this way -Run-Offs vote again -Recalls- citizens in some states can vote to remove a public official from office