Polling Places

-Polling Places

-precinct based

You vote in your local area,

-Usually in schools, town halls, public places

-open early and close late

In NC 7:30-7:30

General Elections

-Elections are controlled by the local Board of Elections

-General Election held November--1st Tuesday after 1st Monday

-Plurality---winning the most votes

-majority---getting more than half of the votes

-most popular votes (plurality) wins most elections

-majority of electoral votes determine the winner of the Presidency (270 to win, House of Rep. Pick president if no one gets majority)

Voting on Issues

-Initiatives

-method where citizens propose a bill through a petition and place it on the ballot for a general election vote

For example Alcohol being allowed to be sold in Asheboro, and Erwin, but being denied in Coats

-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

For example the NC Lottery: the Legislature proposed it but let the people vote on whether they wanted it or not

Casting Your Vote

-must go to the polling place

-I.D. is checked against list of registered voters

If you are not on the list you cannot vote

-cast your vote

paper ballots****what's used in Harnett County and most common

lever machines: out of date

punch cards: not used since debate over 2000 election

computer: most debated because technology can fail and information can be lost

-you may encounter an exit poll

Types of Votes

-Straight Ticket

-voting only for one political party

-Split Ticket

-voting for candidates from either party

-Absentee Ballot: Casting a vote when you can not make it to the polling place on election day, you need to mail it in

-Write-In Votes: you can write any persons name in for election: Write-ins have never one a major election

Special Kinds of Elections

-Referendums

-Initiatives

-Recounts: this happens if the difference between the candidates is less then 1 %

-Run-Offs: This happens when no one gets the majority and that is required, they have another election so someone can get 51%

-Recalls: the removal of a public official from office