Title: Voting and Elections
1Part II
2What level of government determines the
requirements to vote?
3In the past what types of people were denied the
right to vote?
- Women
- Native Americans
- African Americans
- Non-property holders
4Today what are the requirements to vote in most
states?
- 18 years old
- US Citizen
- Registered (except N. Dakota)
- Convicted felons must have served time
5How did each of the following expand suffrage
(right to vote)?
- 15th Amendment all males can vote
- 19th Amendment all women can vote
- 23rd Amendment residents of Washington D.C. get
3 electoral votes - 24th Amendment no poll tax, poor can vote
- Voting Rights Act of 1965 literacy tests
prohibited - 26th Amendment 18 years and older can vote
- Voting Rights Language Assistance Act use of
bilingual ballots
6What are the steps to voting?
- Register National Voter Registration Act Motor
Votor Bill allows people to register when
getting drivers license - To register for the first time you need proof of
citizenship, address and age
7Steps to Voting
- 2. Go to you polling place location where
voting is carried out in your precinct your
voting district - 3. Get a ballot list of candidates
- 4. Step up to voting booth or machine and vote
8How can citizens who cannot get to their polling
place vote?
- Absentee Ballot must be asked for in advance,
marked and returned to election board before
Election Day
9How is a winner determined in an election?
- Election workers count votes and take ballots and
results, called returns to the election board for
verification.
10Exit Polls
- Media try and predict winners by asking (polling)
voters on how they voted - Criticisms may influence outcome by influencing
those who have not voted yet
11Why do some people not vote?
- Do not meet state requirements
- Feel no candidate represents their feelings
- Feel their vote will not make a difference
- Apathy lack of interest
12Types of Elections
- Two Part Process
- Primary Elections nominate candidates to run
- General Elections choose a candidate for office
13Citizens can also vote on issues
- Initiatives way in which people can propose new
laws or state constitutional amendments through
petition - Proposition if enough sign petition the
proposed law is put on ballot for citizens to
vote on
14Referendum
- When citizens can vote to approve or reject a
state or local law
15Special Elections
- Recall Vote when people can vote to remove a
state or local official
16What are the different techniques used in
campaigning for office?
- Canvassing party members go door to door asking
for votes - Advertising allow party to present only its
candidates position and attack an opponant
without response - Propaganda an attempt to promote a particular
person or idea
17Propaganda Techniques
- The Bandwagon
- Glittering Generality
- Stacked Cards
- Transfer
- Just Plain Folks
- Name Calling
- Endorsement
18Paying for campaigns
- There are four parts to any campaign. The
candidate, the issues.., the campaign
organization, and the money. Without the money
you can forget the other three. - Former House Speaker Tip ONeill
19How much do campaigns cost?
- Every four years American spend more than
- 3 BILLION a year on national, state, and local
elections.
20 How do the candidates raise the money?
- Money comes from
- Private Citizens
- The Government
- Corporations and Interest Groups
- Political Action Committees (PACs)
Organizations set up by Interest Groups and Corp.
to raise money for candidates
21Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
- Established to place control on how much
individuals and groups could give to candidates. - WHY?
22FECA CharacteristicsPages 308-309
- Created the FEC (Federal Election Commission)
- Independent agency of the executive branch to
administer campaign laws and watch spending
23Limited Contributions
- In order to keep corruption out of elections
- Cannot limit candidates own money (1st Amendment)
24Presidential Election Campaign Fund
- allows taxpayers to designated 3 of taxes to set
up public fund for Presidential candidates
25What is the difference between soft money and
hard money?
- Hard Money money given directly to candidate
for campaign limited - Soft Money money given to political parties for
general purposes was unlimited
26What is an incumbent?
- Politicians who have already been elected to
office
27Why would incumbents be reluctant to pass
campaign reform laws?
- Because most PACs give their money to incumbents
28What did the McCain-Feingold Act do to restrict
campaign financing?
- Prohibits raising soft money in national
campaigns - Puts time restrictions on broadcasting political
adds - Raised the limits on hard money for campaigns
29What trends are likely to come about in campaign
financing in the future?
- Focus on many small donations rather than large
- Use of internet to campaign