voting

VotingCh. 10

Warm up1. What kind of political party system do many democracies have?2. What do you learn about by reading a party platform?3. What is a political parties stance on a single issue called?4. What is the main purpose of a political party?5. What country is governed by a one party system6. What can 3rd parties be based on?7. What is an alliance with another political party called?8. What is the purpose of the ‘watchdog’ role?

Eligibility to Vote• 18 years old• Resident of the state for a

specific time• Citizen of the U.S.• No felonies• Once registered, a person is

assigned to a district• You can only vote once!

Voting Process1. Gather information

1. Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, and internet

2. Websites of candidates & political parties3. Political parties

2. Go to polling place & receive a ballot3. Cast your ballot – fill out your choices4. Wait for returns – reporting of election

results5. Absentee Ballot – a way to vote if you will

be unable to vote on election day 6. Exit Poll – way of predicting the winner

before all of the votes are counted by asking people as they leave who they voted for

Voting Process

North Carolina Sample Ballot

Not VotingElectorate – people eligible to vote• Apathy – lack of interest. #1

reason why people don’t vote• Following can’t vote

o Felonso Those in mental hospitalso People who do not meet

state requirements• Registration is not a problem –

states allow people to register when they renew their driver’s license.

• Presidential elections – 50% of electorate vote

• Elections without Presidential candidates – between 7% and 20% vote

• The right to vote belongs to every U.S citizen. In your opinion, what do citizens forfeit if they do not exercise their right to vote?

Political Cartoon• Voter apathy is a big issue in the U.S.

• I want you to draw a political cartoon that depicts a reason or several reasons people give for not voting.

Special Elections• Initiative – a way citizens can propose new laws or

state constitutional amendments. a petition is signed with enough signatures from qualified voters, to put an issue on the ballot

• Proposition – (the proposed law). It is put on the ballot at the next general election

• Referendum – a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law. people can gather signatures to review a law passed by the state legislatures and have it sent back to the voters for their approval at the next general election

• Usually with very controversial issues• Recall – special election where voters can vote an

official out of office before their term is up

CampaigningCreation of a positive image for a candidateTelevision is the most common means of campaigning2 types

Mass Campaigning – TV, mail – less time consuming but more expensive

Grassroots – small level – Canvassing or making phone calls – cheap but time consuming – the voters get to personally know the candidate and the candidate gets to know the voters

Incumbents – win 80% of the time Name recognitionFranking privilege

Endorsements – a famous or popular person supports a candidate

Financing Campaigns

• The Federal Election & Campaign Finance Act of 1971o Established rules for campaign financeo Public disclosure of spendingo Established federal funding of presidential

electionso Limits how much individuals & groups could

spendoCreated the

FEC (Federal Election Committee)

Private Funding• Soft Money Donations

o Donations given to political parties & not designated for a particular candidate

o Most goes to TV ads for the parties’ candidateso Elaborate dinners with individual donations

• Political Action Committees (PACs)o Organized by special interest groupso Funds candidates who favor their position on

issues• Hard money vs. Soft money

o Hard money – directly to a candidateo Soft money – general purpose

Public Funding• Presidential Election Campaign Fund

o Taxpayers check a box on their federal income tax returns to designate $3 of their taxes to the fund

oCandidates can get the money for primary elections if they have raised $100,000 on their own

oBarack Obama did not take any public money for the 2008 Presidential Election

• How do you think the internet has affected campaigns, or might affect future campaigns?