Part II Voting and Elections. What level of government determines the requirements to vote? State...
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Transcript of Part II Voting and Elections. What level of government determines the requirements to vote? State...
What level of government What level of government determines the requirements determines the requirements
to vote?to vote? State GovernmentsState Governments
In the past what types of peoplIn the past what types of people were denied the right to votee were denied the right to vote?? WomenWomen Native Americans Native Americans African AmericansAfrican Americans Non-property holdersNon-property holders
Today what are the Today what are the requirements to vote in most requirements to vote in most
states?states? 18 years old18 years old US CitizenUS Citizen Registered (except N. Dakota)Registered (except N. Dakota) Convicted felons must have Convicted felons must have
served timeserved time
How did each of the following How did each of the following expand expand suffrage suffrage (right to (right to
vote)vote)?? 1515thth Amendment – Amendment – all males can voteall males can vote 1919thth Amendment – Amendment – all women can voteall women can vote 2323rdrd Amendment – Amendment – residents of residents of
Washington D.C. get 3 electoral votesWashington D.C. get 3 electoral votes 2424thth Amendment – Amendment – no poll tax, poor can no poll tax, poor can
votevote Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Voting Rights Act of 1965 – literacy tests literacy tests
prohibitedprohibited 2626thth Amendment – Amendment – 18 years and older 18 years and older
can votecan vote Voting Rights Language Assistance Act – Voting Rights Language Assistance Act –
use of bilingual ballotsuse of bilingual ballots
What are the steps to What are the steps to voting?voting?
1.1. Register: Register: National Voter National Voter Registration Act “Registration Act “Motor Votor Motor Votor Bill” allows people to register Bill” allows people to register when getting drivers license when getting drivers license
To register for the first time you need To register for the first time you need proof of citizenship, address and proof of citizenship, address and ageage
Steps to VotingSteps to Voting
2. Go to you 2. Go to you polling placepolling place – – location location where voting is carried outwhere voting is carried out – – in in your your precinctprecinct – – your voting your voting districtdistrict
3. Get a 3. Get a ballotballot – – list of candidateslist of candidates
4. Step up to voting booth or machine 4. Step up to voting booth or machine and voteand vote
How can citizens who cannot How can citizens who cannot get to their polling place vote?get to their polling place vote?
Absentee BallotAbsentee Ballot – – must be asked must be asked for in advance, marked and for in advance, marked and returned to election board returned to election board before Election Daybefore Election Day
How is a winner determined in How is a winner determined in an election?an election?
Election workers count votes and Election workers count votes and take ballots and results, called take ballots and results, called returnsreturns to the election board for to the election board for verification.verification.
Exit PollsExit Polls
Media try and predict winners by Media try and predict winners by asking (polling) voters on how asking (polling) voters on how they votedthey voted
Criticisms – Criticisms – may influence may influence outcome by influencing those outcome by influencing those who have not voted yetwho have not voted yet
Why do some people not Why do some people not vote?vote?
Do not meet state requirementsDo not meet state requirements Feel no candidate represents Feel no candidate represents
their feelingstheir feelings Feel their vote will not make a Feel their vote will not make a
differencedifference Apathy Apathy – – lack of interestlack of interest
Types of ElectionsTypes of Elections
Two Part Process:Two Part Process: Primary Elections – Primary Elections – nominate nominate
candidates to runcandidates to run General Elections – General Elections – choose a choose a
candidate for officecandidate for office
Citizens can also vote on Citizens can also vote on issuesissues
Initiatives Initiatives –– way in which people way in which people can propose new laws or state can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments constitutional amendments through petitionthrough petition
PropositionProposition – – if enough sign if enough sign petition the proposed law is put petition the proposed law is put on ballot for citizens to vote onon ballot for citizens to vote on
ReferendumReferendum
When citizens can vote to When citizens can vote to approve or reject a state or local approve or reject a state or local lawlaw
Special ElectionsSpecial Elections
Recall Vote Recall Vote – – when people can when people can vote to remove a state or local vote to remove a state or local officialofficial
What are the different What are the different techniques used in techniques used in
campaigning for office?campaigning for office? Canvassing – Canvassing – party members go party members go
door to door asking for votesdoor to door asking for votes Advertising – Advertising – allow party to allow party to
present only its candidate’s present only its candidate’s position and attack an opponant position and attack an opponant without responsewithout response
Propaganda – Propaganda – an attempt to an attempt to promote a particular person or promote a particular person or ideaidea
Propaganda TechniquesPropaganda Techniques
The BandwagonThe Bandwagon Glittering GeneralityGlittering Generality Stacked CardsStacked Cards TransferTransfer Just Plain FolksJust Plain Folks Name CallingName Calling Endorsement Endorsement
Paying for campaignsPaying for campaigns
““There are four parts to any There are four parts to any campaign. The candidate, the campaign. The candidate, the issues….., the campaign issues….., the campaign organization, and the money. organization, and the money. Without the money you can forget Without the money you can forget the other three.”the other three.”– Former House Speaker Tip O’NeillFormer House Speaker Tip O’Neill
How much do campaigns How much do campaigns cost?cost?
Every four years American Every four years American spend more thanspend more than
$3 BILLION$3 BILLION a year a year on national, state, and local on national, state, and local elections.elections.
How do the candidates raise How do the candidates raise the money?the money?
Money comes fromMoney comes from:: Private CitizensPrivate Citizens The GovernmentThe Government Corporations and Interest GroupsCorporations and Interest Groups Political Action Committees – Political Action Committees –
((PACs) Organizations set up by PACs) Organizations set up by Interest Groups and Corp. to raise Interest Groups and Corp. to raise money for candidatesmoney for candidates
Federal Election Campaign Act Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)(FECA)
Established to place control on how Established to place control on how much individuals and groups could much individuals and groups could give to candidates.give to candidates.
WHY?WHY?
FECA CharacteristicsFECA CharacteristicsPages 308-309Pages 308-309
Created the Created the FEC (FEC (Federal Election Federal Election CommissionCommission))
Independent agency of the Independent agency of the executive branch to administer executive branch to administer campaign laws and watch campaign laws and watch spendingspending
Limited ContributionsLimited Contributions
In order to keep corruption out of In order to keep corruption out of electionselections
Cannot limit candidates own money Cannot limit candidates own money (1(1stst Amendment) Amendment)
Presidential Election Campaign Presidential Election Campaign FundFund
allows taxpayers to designated allows taxpayers to designated $3 of taxes to set up public fund $3 of taxes to set up public fund for Presidential candidatesfor Presidential candidates
What is the difference between What is the difference between soft money soft money and and hard hard
moneymoney?? Hard Money – Hard Money – money given money given
directly to candidate for directly to candidate for campaign; limitedcampaign; limited
Soft Money – Soft Money – money given to money given to political parties for general political parties for general purposes; was unlimitedpurposes; was unlimited
What is an What is an incumbentincumbent??
Politicians who have already Politicians who have already been elected to officebeen elected to office
Why would incumbents be Why would incumbents be reluctant to pass campaign reluctant to pass campaign
reform laws?reform laws?
Because most PACs give their Because most PACs give their money to incumbentsmoney to incumbents
What did the McCain-Feingold What did the McCain-Feingold Act do to restrict campaign Act do to restrict campaign
financing?financing? Prohibits raising soft money in Prohibits raising soft money in
national campaignsnational campaigns Puts time restrictions on Puts time restrictions on
broadcasting political addsbroadcasting political adds Raised the limits on hard money Raised the limits on hard money
for campaignsfor campaigns