The Right to Vote

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The Right to Vote

• Packet 16

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Your packet says we live in a democracy, but we
really dont

• Its more of a republic
• Our country is run by people who are elected to
  office.
• The best way to get what you want as a citizen is
  to vote for people who have the same ideas as you.

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Two kinds of elections

• For candidates (people)
• Whether a primary or general election.
• Whether local, state, or federal or all

• For issues
• Tax increases for schools, Fire Departments,
  Police, Libraries, Parks, etc
• Issues such as smoking age, building a new ? In
  town, local decisions, new amendment decisions

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Some ways people have been restricted from voting
(in the past)

• Pre Civil War Amendments no slaves could vote
• Early in U.S. History had to own property to be
  able to vote
• Some states used to have poll taxes needed to
  pay a fee to vote

• Some states wouldnt let you vote unless you
  could read and write.
• Women couldnt vote until 1920
• 26th Amendment let people from 18-21 vote for
  the first time

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Voting today

• Anyone over 18 - unless

• Youve been convicted of a felony
• If you have a mental illness that keeps you from
  making good decisions

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To register to vote

• Elections are done through the County Clerks
  office.
• You have to register to vote at least 30 days
  before the election

• You must be an American citizen (born in the U.S.
  or born to American parents)
• You must be at least 18 years old on election
  day.
• You must have lived in the state for at least 30
  days

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Make sure you
Vote
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One VoteThe enormous power of just one single
vote has often been demonstrated throughout
history.  The course of nations has been changed
because one important vote was cast or not cast. 
You may think that your vote, cast among millions
in a state or federal election, cannot possibly
count but it does.  Your one vote may swing your
entire precinct into your candidate's column.  It
is at the precinct level that elections are won
or lost.   Your vote is your direct voice in your
country's affairs.  Every time you do not
exercise your right to go to the polls, you
strengthen the voice of the opposition.   So lets
use the power of the ballot.  Let's all get out
and vote for the candidates of our choice on this
and every vital Election Day.
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Some elections decided by small margins

• In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of
  England.
• In 1649, one vote caused Charles 1 of England to
  be executed.
• In 1776, prior to the onset of the American
  Revolution.  The newly formed United States
  considered severing all ties with the mother
  country by changing our language from English to
  German.  A proposal for this was presented to
  Congress, but the vote ended in a tie.  The
  deadlock was finally broken when the son of a
  German immigrant cast his vote in favor of
  English.

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and

• In 1800, the presidential election between Thomas
  Jefferson and Aaron Burr was tied - after ballots
  were cast 36 times by the House, the vote was
  still tied.  Then, one Federalist changed his
  vote.  Jefferson was elected President on the
  37th ballot.
• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
• In 1875, France became a Republic by one single
  vote.
• In 1846, one vote for the Mexican War brought us
  not only victory, but the territory of five great
  states, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and
  California.
• In 1941, one vote saved Selective Service weeks
  before Pearl Harbor.

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Vote