Part II Voting and Elections. What level of government determines the requirements to vote? State...

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Part II Part II Voting and Elections Voting and Elections

Transcript of Part II Voting and Elections. What level of government determines the requirements to vote? State...

Part IIPart II

Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

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

What trends are likely to come What trends are likely to come about in campaign financing in about in campaign financing in

the future?the future? Focus on many small donations Focus on many small donations

rather than largerather than large Use of internet to campaignUse of internet to campaign