Voting and Elections Chapter 11

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.

Guiding Question: What are the requirements to vote?Throughout history

most people did not choose their rulersPeople 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

Expanding SuffrageThe 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 (1885-1977)-suffragist

Voting Requirements TodayMany 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 imprisonedPeople who suffer certain mental illnessNon-citizens

Abraham Lincoln said we have:“a government of the people, by the people,

and for the people”

Extending The Right To Vote

1870 Fifteenth AmendmentProhibits denying a person’s right to vote on the Basis of race

1960 Civil Rights Act of 1960Introduces penalties against anybody who obstructs an individual’s voting rights

1929 Nineteenth Amendment Guarantees women the right to vote

1961 Twenty-third AmendmentResidents 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 1965Literacy tests prohibited; Federal voter registrars authorized in seven southern states

1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957Justice Department can sue to protect voting rights in various states

1970 Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970Lowers the minimum voting age to 18 in federal elections

Extending The Right To Vote

1971 Twenty-sixth AmendmentMinimum 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 1975Bans literacy tests and mandates bilingual ballots in certain areas

2006 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006Prohibits 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 1982Extends provisions of two previous voting rights act amendments

1992 Voting Rights Language Assistance ActExtends use of bilingual ballots and voting Assistance

Steps In the Voting ProcessGuiding 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

Registering to VoteYou must fill out a form

Name, address, age Political party preferenceProvide driver’s license, birth

certificate, or other valid identification

Proof of citizenshipSome 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

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?

Casting Your VoteMany 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 DaySet 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

BallotBallot-is a list of the

candidates names that shows their political party and the office they are seekingCould 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

Why Your Vote CountsGuiding Question- Why is it important to vote?

Every vote counts equally Reasons to vote

Voting is a right and a responsibilityVoting 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

Understanding Voter ParticipationVoting is a right, responsibility and power

Yet many Americans choose not to voteVoter Turnout- the percentage of eligible voters

who actually vote If only 60 percent of eligible voters actually vote,

turnout is 60Turnout rate is usually below 50 percent Low turnout is mainly due to apathy

Apathy- lack of interestTo busy, moved and didn’t register, just not

interested

Lesson 2Elections 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 Representatives100 Senators President and Vice President500,000 elected official in the United States

Governors and state officials Elections are a large part of American life

Primary and General ElectionsThe first step in the

election process is the primary election.Usually held in the spring

or summerPurpose 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

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

Initiatives and ReferendumsPeople 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 governingInitiative- 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

Some states allow recall electionsPeople vote on whether to

remove an official from office Begins with people signing a

petition An election takes placeIf there is a majority of votes,

the official is removed from office

Sometimes an official dies in office or steps downA special election might be

heldElection does not take place a

regularly scheduled time

Special Elections

Presidential Elections Guiding Question- How are

Presidents elected?

Understanding the Electoral CollegePresidents 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

Electoral CollegeEach state has as many electors as they have

senators and representatives Florida has 27 representatives and 2 senators for a

total of 29 electorsNationally there are 538 electors

100 Senators + 435 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 voteThe purpose of popular vote is to choose the electors

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

Criticisms of the Electoral CollegeWinner-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

CollegeIt 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

Running for OfficeNeeds to meet requirements

Natural-born citizenAt least 35 years oldLived in the United States at least 14 years

Set up exploratory committeeFind out how much support the candidate is likely to

get Several people from each party compete in

primaries Delegates are chosenDelegates at the conventions choose the party

candidate

Campaigning After the convention the

candidate hits the campaign trailSpeeches, 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

Campaign FinanceLocal 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