Download VOTING and ELECTIONS - Mr. Byvik: Civics and World Geography

Civics and Economics 8
Mr. Byvik
1. Polling place
2. Precinct
3. Ballot
4. Returns
5. Exit poll
6. Electorate
7. Apathy
8. Absentee ballot
A. List of candidates used to cast vote
B. Lack of interest (in voting)
C. Location where voting occurs
D. Same as a voting district
E. Americans who are eligible to vote
F. Used when one can’t be home to vote
G. Election results
H. Questions sometimes asked by news media
and/or political party workers when one leaves
the polls
1. Citizen of United States
2. Legal resident of a
state
3.18 years of age or
older
In the presidential election of 2008,
71.0% of the U.S. population registered
to vote, and
89.6 % of registered voters actually voted.
Information from U.S. Census Bureau
Group
Group
Group
educated
wealthy
older
In Virginia, voter
registration must be
completed at least
22 days before an
election.
1. By mail
2. Go to any Division of
Motor Vehicles office
3. Go to the Registrar’s
office in your
county.
When you register to vote, you may choose to register as a member of a
political party, but this is not required. (This allows you to vote in primaries.)
When you register to vote, you are assigned to an election district which
has a designated place for you to go to cast your ballot when you vote.
Register
before
election.
Go to your
district’s
polling place
to vote.
Sign in at
polling place
with
identification.
Vote by
casting your
ballot.
Primary
1. Held by political parties for their registered party members to vote
to select one candidate from within their party to run for office.
2. Serve to select the political party’s candidate for a general election
General
1. All registered voters vote to select candidates for presidential,
congressional, gubernatorial, state legislature, mayoral, etc. offices.
2. Each candidate on a general election ballot represent s a political
party.
Referendum
A special election where an issue is put on the ballot to let the voters
decide what should be done.
Recall
A special election held to remove a public official from office
Nomination
• Primaries of political party nominate a candidate to represent their party.
• National convention of political party nominates one candidate from
primaries.
Campaign
• Campaigning begins with acceptance of nomination at national convention.
• Involves speeches, debates, appearances, news conferences, advertising,
etc
Electoral
College
• General election held every 4 years in November for popular (people’s)
vote
• Electors of Electoral College vote in December after direct popular
election.
1. Every state has a group of electors who are determined by popular
election voters.
2. Each state has 1 elector for each of its senators and 1 elector for each
of its Congressional representatives.
3. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all
of that state’s electoral votes (the “winner-takes-all system”).
4. The total number of electoral votes is 538.
5. The candidate who receives 270 electoral college votes wins the
presidential
election.
Important question: Who or what really elects the president and
the vice-president of our country?
YES

Reasons
NO

Reasons
NEVER
Class Count:
______ YES
Class Count: ________ NO

Canvassing for funds

Endorsements

Candidate’s own money

Political Action
Committees

Special interest groups

Fundraising events

Some government tax
money
The mass media (both print and
electronic forms) affects the
public agenda,
country’s public policy,
nomination of candidates,
outcome of elections,
actions of elected officials,
impact of watchdogs , and
national security.
Discuss examples of how the mass media
affects each of the seven factors above.
 What
is
“propaganda”?
Propaganda is the
deliberate spreading
of true or false
information, ideas, or
rumors to help or
harm a person
(candidate) or group.
Bandwagon:
Candidate suggests that so many others are voting for
him or her that you should, too.
Name Calling:
Candidate uses disrespectful insults, accusations,
intimidation, lies, unethical conduct to demean opponent.
Plain Folks:
The candidate tries to blend in with ordinary people.
Glittering
Generalities:
Candidate equates himself or herself with ideals such
“democracy,” “patriotic,” and “honor” to win votes.
Endorsements:
Candidate has a popular or famous person’s support.
Transfer:
Candidate equates opponent with unpopular or infamous
person so that no one will vote for opponent.
Card Stacking:
Candidate publicizes accomplishments, but leaves out
personal flaws and mistakes made.