Vocabulary

General Election- Elections when candidates are elected into office.

Primary Election- Voters choose between candidates within the same party to see who will run for office in the General Election.

Canvassing- The process of going door to door to get people to vote for their candidate.

Polling Place- Place where voting in a district in carried out. Initiative- 1st step in the process of citizens forcing a vote

on a law or issue, usually by gathering enough citizens to sign a petition.

Referendum- When a community votes on the law or issue. Apathy- Not caring about something. Main reason for

people not voting.

Warm up?

Why should you exercise your right to vote? Why is it important?

EQ

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN? HOW WOULD YOU CATAGORIZE YOURSELF? WHAT ISSUES DO YOU FEEL MOST STRONGLY ABOUT?

Types of Elections

1. Primary Elections

In a primary election voters choose between candidates within the same party. The candidate who receives

the most votes receives the party’s nomination.

If there are several candidates running a run-off may be needed to decide a winner. A run-off election is needed if

a candidate does not receive a majority. This does not happen in a Prez.

Election…Why? Who decides the winner if neither candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?

2. General Elections

Candidates are voted into office by a general election. These elections are

held in November of an election year

These elections are when voters choose between any Republican, Democrat, or Third party candidates for public offices.

Caucus

Some states like Iowa choose their party’s nominee by a caucus rather than a primary election. In a caucus system

party members hold meeting to choose delegates.

These delegates choose other delegates to vote in favor of nominating a certain candidate at the national convention.

Partisan or Nonpartisan

All national and state elections are partisan. It is clearly stated on

the ballot what party a candidate belongs to.

However, local and some state elections are non-partisan. A candidate’s party is

not listed on the ballot What method do you

think is better? Why?

Special Election

A recall election is an election where citizens vote to remove an official from office. Happened in 2003 to Gov.

Gary Davis of California An initiative is when

citizens force a vote on an issue by gaining enough signatures on a petition.

Propositions are when citizens vote on whether or not they support a policy or a change in a law.

Steps in a Presidential Election

1. Primaries and Caucuses

2. National Convention

3. General Election4. Electoral College

Electoral College

Is the winner of a presidential election chosen directly by the people? No, Electors to the

Electoral College Winner needs 270

our of 538 electoral votes

It’s a winner take all system Problem?

2000 Presidential Election

2000 Presidential Election

Although Al Gore won the popular vote, George W. Bush won the majority of electoral votes. Gore: 267, popular

vote: 50,996,039 Bush: 271, popular

vote: 50,456,141

THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM

Funding Campaigns In order to win an election

candidates must have an effective campaign Strategy for winning

Private Funding Most campaign funding Political Action Committee

$ given to the candidate from corporations, special interest groups or labor unions

Public Funding Funding pool created by

taxpayers Candidates must raise

$100,000 on own first Can’t accept any private

donations

Campaigns Cont.

Canvassing Volunteers you go

door to door to try and get people to vote for their candidate

Steps in voting

1. Register to vote Makes sure only qualified

citizens vote, and vote only once

2. Go to the polling place (where voting is carried out) in your precinct (voting district)

3. Study a sample ballot (list of candidates on which you cast your vote)

4. Cast your vote!!!! People who vote are

called electorates

Punch Card Ballot

Butterfly Ballot

Lever Machine Ballot

What if you can’t get to the polls?

Absentee ballot Allows you to vote

without going to the polls

Exp: elderly, sick and military

Citizen Apathy

The greatest concern are not the problems that exist but that a lack of concern among citizens will cause people to do nothing.

Who counts the votes?

Board of Elections The Media!!!

Cast exit polls Ask a sample of

voters who they voted for when they leave the polls

This can cause voters to “jump on the bandwagon”…voting for a candidate who appears to be winning.

EQ

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN? HOW WOULD YOU CATAGORIZE YOURSELF? WHAT ISSUES DO YOU FEEL MOST STRONGLY ABOUT?

reflection

1. Summarize the difference b/w general elections and primary elections.

2. What is a caucus?3. What is the difference b/w partisan and non-

partisan elections4. What is a potential problem with the Electoral

College?5. Summarize difference b/w private and public

funding6. What are the steps in voting? Qualifications?7. What can you do if you can’t get to the polls?8. Who counts votes?

Ending Question?

What ideas can you think of that could get more people to show up and vote?