Elections

10/09/2006

Presidency

• The President is actually elected by the Electoral College.

• So my vote doesn’t count? WRONG!

Electoral College – How it works

• Each State is given 2 Electors by default.

• States are also given more Electors equal to the number of members in the House of Representatives

• No State can have less than 3. (sky’s the limit on the most)

So you want to win?

• 435 population based Electors+100 Electors (2 for every State)+ 3 for the District of ColumbiaTotal: 538

Number to win… 270! Your 270 electoral votes away from the Presidency!

Who are these people?

• Selected by the State party (or sometimes Primaries)

• Not allowed to be a Federal employee

• Not allowed to be a candidate

• They meet in a secret room, results are sealed. The President of the Senate (VP) read the results to Congress.

Tell the Secretary

• Federal law states that Electors must file with the Secretary of State at least 30 days prior to the Election.

• The Secretary of State is the Chief Elections Officer.

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita

How it works…

• 41 days after the Election… the Electors meet in the State Capitals

• Vote for President and Vice President (Certification of Vote)

• Sealed, and shipped off to Congress to be tallied

What if they…

• Don’t vote for who they are supposed to?

Nothing is stopping them… there has been occasions throughout history…but never have affected the outcome of a Presidency.

So my vote doesn’t count?

• Yes it does! These people are put in place to support your candidate.

• This system is wrong! That was proven in 2000 when Gore got the majority vote! IF the majority of us want him…he should be President!

Okay…but is that fair?

• If majority vote were true… a handful of states would decide the President.

• What about the smaller states? Shouldn’t they have a say to?

• No geographic region has 270 votes.

Things to consider

• Forefathers could not have imagined the communication break through we have today.

• Feared every State would vote ‘their’ candidate

What do I need to get 270?

• So you want to be President?

• You have to be at least 35 years of age

• Natural Born Citizen

• Resident for 14 years

That’s it (cough per the Constitution)

• You cannot be a felon either.

• So there you have it. Your 35, born in the US, and have lived here for 14 years… get the 270 electoral votes and you’re the President. Piece of Cake

When do I vote?

• 1st Tuesday of November

• Originally states had a 72 hour window.

• Why was that a bad idea?

Who can vote?

• You are a U.S. Citizen

• Your 18 years of age

• You are registered to Vote

• Not in jail on Election Day

States have a lot of power

• States can implement election laws (more or less at their discretion)

• Could this be dangerous? Could a state influence outcomes?

• Historical example: Grandfather Clause -> prevented African Americans from voting.

In Indiana for example…

• In order to vote* you must present a Photo ID.

• Also ‘vote anywhere’ centers are being planned for 2007

• SVRS

Got ID?

• Display the voter’s photo

• Display name, and name must conform with voter registration record

• Show expiration date, and be current as of 11-4-2004

• Issued by State or Federal Government

What about…

• Your Jagtag?

• Does it have an expiration date?

Exceptions to the ID rule…

Exemptions do exist for the indigent, those with a religious objection to being photographed, and those living in state-licensed facilities that serve as their precinct's polling place.

A voter wishing to claim an exemption from the photo ID requirement based on indigence or a religious objection may do so in one of two ways:1. Go the polls on Election Day, and cast a provisional ballot.

Within 10 days of the election, visit the county election office and affirm that an exemption applies to the voter.

– Vote absentee-in-person at the county election office before Election Day, and while there, affirm that an exemption applies to the voter.

A voter who is a resident at a state-licensed facility that serves as his or her polling place may claim the exemption at the polls on Election Day.

Vote

• Are you registered? You have until tomorrow.

• Do you have an ID?

• Do you know your polling location?

• Have you researched the candidates?

If you answered to No to any

• Please visit

www.in.gov/sos/elections

Our system of government has been envied by many… take advantage of it. It’s your right, it’s your responsibility.