1. Voting and Elections Chapter 11

2. Who Can Vote? Lesson 1 Essential Questions:
What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens?
It Matters Because:
The right to vote spread slowly to more and more people.

3. Guiding Question: What are the requirements to vote?
Throughout history most people did not choose their rulers
People had powerful rulers such as kings and queens
In the United States
Citizens have the right to vote for their leaders
One of the most treasured rights

4. Expanding Suffrage
The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal”
This principle or belief has not always been achieved
Suffrage- the right to vote
The right to vote was limited to only white, male landowners
Excluded were :
White males who did not own property
All women , African Americans, Native Americans, people under 21 years of age
Alice Paul ( )-suffragist

5. Voting Requirements Today
Many barriers to voting have been eliminated
In most states some people are not eligible, or qualified to vote
People who committed serious crimes and are still imprisoned
People who suffer certain mental illness
Non-citizens
Abraham Lincoln said we have:
“a government of the people, by the people, and for the people”

6. Extending The Right To Vote
1870 Fifteenth Amendment
Prohibits denying a person’s right to vote on the Basis of race
1960 Civil Rights Act of 1960
Introduces penalties against anybody who obstructs an individual’s voting rights
1929 Nineteenth Amendment
Guarantees women the right to vote
1961 Twenty-third Amendment
Residents of District of Columbia give the right to vote
1924 Congressional Act
All native Americans give citizenship
1964 Twenty-fourth Amendment
Outlaws poll tax in national elections
Smith v. Allwright
Supreme Court rules prohibiting African Americans from voting in primary elections is unconstitutional
1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965
Literacy tests prohibited; Federal voter registrars authorized in seven southern states
1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957
Justice Department can sue to protect voting rights in various states
1970 Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970
Lowers the minimum voting age to 18 in federal elections

7. Extending The Right To Vote
1971 Twenty-sixth Amendment
Minimum voting age reduces to 18 for all elections
1993 National Voter Registration Act
Makes it easier to register to vote and to maintain registration
1975 Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975
Bans literacy tests and mandates bilingual ballots in certain areas
2006 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006
Prohibits use of tests or devices to deny the right to vote; requires certain jurisdictions to provide voting materials in multiple languages
1982 Voting Rights Act Amendment of 1982
Extends provisions of two previous voting rights act amendments
1992 Voting Rights Language Assistance Act
Extends use of bilingual ballots and voting Assistance

8. Steps In the Voting Process
Guiding Question: What steps must you follow to vote?
Registering to Vote
All states except for North Dakota require citizens to register before they can vote
Register- to officially sign up to vote
Most states require you to register at least 25 days before the election
Some states allow you to register on Election Day

9. Registering to Vote You must fill out a form Name, address, age
Political party preference
Provide driver’s license, birth certificate, or other valid identification
Proof of citizenship
Some states allow you to register by mail
You can download the form
National Voter Registration Act
Requires states to let people register when they are renewing a drivers license
“Motor Voter” law

10. Preparing to Vote Once you are registered you can vote
Your vote is important and can determine the outcome of the election
Affects the lives of many people
Be informed about the issues
Does the candidate stand for the things I think are important?
Is the candidate reliable and honest?
Does the candidate have relevant past experience?
Will the candidate be effective in offices?
Does the candidate have a real chance of winning?

11. Casting Your Vote Many states allow early voting
Citizens can vote prior to Election Day
Some states allow early voting by mail
Polling Place- the place you go vote on Election Day
Set up in schools, community centers, fire stations, libraries and more
Each precinct, or voting district, has one polling place
When you arrive your present some form of identification
You cast your vote in secret

12. Ballot
Ballot-is a list of the candidates names that shows their political party and the office they are seeking
Could be a card that you punch holes
Could be a computer touch screen
Could be absentee ballots
Citizens who cannot get to polls vote absentee
Military personnel, people who are traveling
Voters request an absentee ballot

13. Why Your Vote Counts Guiding Question- Why is it important to vote?
Every vote counts equally
Reasons to vote
Voting is a right and a responsibility
Voting gives you a chance to choose your government leaders
Voting allows you to express your feelings and opinions about current leaders
Voting gives a voice in how your community, state and country is run
Voting gives you positive attitudes about government and community

14. Understanding Voter Participation
Voting is a right, responsibility and power
Yet many Americans choose not to vote
Voter Turnout- the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote
If only 60 percent of eligible voters actually vote, turnout is 60
Turnout rate is usually below 50 percent
Low turnout is mainly due to apathy
Apathy- lack of interest
To busy, moved and didn’t register, just not interested

15. Lesson 2 Elections and Campaigns
Guiding Question- Why are there different types of elections in the American political system?
People who hold elected office in the United States
435 Representatives
100 Senators
President and Vice President
500,000 elected official in the United States
Governors and state officials
Elections are a large part of American life

16. Primary and General Elections
The first step in the election process is the primary election.
Usually held in the spring or summer
Purpose of the primary election is to choose one candidate from each party
Candidate is the person with the plurality of the votes (most votes)
Some states require a majority

17. Elections Presidential – Every 4 years Senate – Every 6 six years
One third of senate every 2 years
House of Representatives – all members every 2 years
If the election is too close a recount is demanded

18. Initiatives and Referendums
People vote on issues
Topics of public interest, matters of debate or dispute
Issues can be put on the ballot so voters can approve or reject it.
Two special processes give voters a direct voice in governing
Initiative- is a process that lets voters propose new laws or amendments to state constitutions
Need to gather enough signatures to place it on the ballot
The proposed law is a proposition (prop)
Referendum- asks voters to accept or reject a law passed by the legislature
For example, changes to the constitution
These changes often involve new taxes or tax increases

19. Special Elections Some states allow recall elections
People vote on whether to remove an official from office
Begins with people signing a petition
An election takes place
If there is a majority of votes, the official is removed from office
Sometimes an official dies in office or steps down
A special election might be held
Election does not take place a regularly scheduled time

20. Presidential Elections
Guiding Question- How are Presidents elected?
Understanding the Electoral College
Presidents are not directly elected by the people
When voters cast their ballots they are actually electing special representatives called electors
Electoral College- a group of people named by the state legislature to select the president and vice president

21. Electoral College
Each state has as many electors as they have senators and representatives
Florida has 27 representatives and 2 senators for a total of 29 electors
Nationally there are 538 electors
100 Senators Representatives + 3 Representing District of Columbia = 538 Electors
The candidate that wins the majority of electoral votes, wins the election (at least 270)
Popular vote- the votes cast by individual voters, as apposed to electoral vote
The purpose of popular vote is to choose the electors

22. The Electoral College Process
TUESDAY AFTER FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER
On Election Day, voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a particular presidential candidate
MONDAY AFTER SECOND WEDNESDAY IN DECEMBER
Winning electors in each state meet in their state capitals to cast their votes for president and vice president.
A statement of the vote is sent to Washington D.C.
JANUARY 6
Congress counts electoral votes. A majority of electoral votes is needed to win (270 out of 538)
JANUARY 20
The candidate receiving majority of electoral votes is sworn in as president of the United States

23. Criticisms of the Electoral College
Winner-take-all system- the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state receives all the state’s electoral votes
It’s possible to nationally win the popular vote and still lose the electoral votes
It’s extremely difficult for third party candidates to be represented in the electoral college
The Constitutions set up the Electoral College
It is a compromise, electors choose the president, but the popular vote chooses the electors
In order to change the system, the Constitution has to be amended

24. Running for Office Needs to meet requirements
Natural-born citizen
At least 35 years old
Lived in the United States at least 14 years
Set up exploratory committee
Find out how much support the candidate is likely to get
Several people from each party compete in primaries
Delegates are chosen
Delegates at the conventions choose the party candidate

25. Campaigning After the convention the candidate hits the campaign trail
Speeches, interviews, community events, debates, answer voters questions
Canvas- to seek votes from voters
Door-to-door, telephone, Internet, television, radio, signs, buttons, etc…
Endorsements- public support from people and groups

26. Campaign Finance Local campaigns cost thousands of dollars
State campaigns cost hundreds of thousands of dollars
Presidential campaigns cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Most of the money comes from donations
Individuals, corporations, unions, private groups
Political Action Committees (PACs)
An organization set up by interest groups to collect and direct money to candidates and their campaigns
Many Americans believe there is too much money in campaigns.
Candidates will want to help the biggest donors