VOTING IN AMERICA

                                     

                      

REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?

VOTING

APATHY

– ONLY 51 % for President

May 30, 2006, Telescope announced that a total of 63.5 million votes were cast in the finale round. A total of 580 million votes were cast in the entire season.

VOTER REGISTRATION CARD – TO PREVENT FRAUD

• http://www.co.montgomery.tx.us/election/PrimaryMapED.pdf

15th, 19th, 26th Amendments

CIVIL RIGHTS ACT 1965 (CONGRESS)DID AWAY WITH:

•LITERACY TESTS

•POLL TAX

MOTOR VOTER ACT (1992)

SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT – ONE PERSON PER DISTRICT (TX – 32 DISTRICTS – KEVIN BRADY – DISTR ICT 8)

AT – LARGE VOTING

ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN TEXAS VOTE

Gerrymandering

Elections

To be elected, an individual must win two types of elections

Primary Election

Held on a date determined by the states

Open (TEXAS – SORT OF)TEXAS TWO STEP

Crossover vote

Closed Political parties prefer closed http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

Primary Election•election within a political party

•choose party candidate

                                          

vs.

General ElectionALL eligible voters make

final selection

VS.

General ElectionAll FEDERAL (general

elections) are held on the same day

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even

numbered years

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27205654/\

http://www.hartintercivic.com/files/eSlate.swf

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics&id=6460598

FLORIDA BALLOT

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4089870

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics&id=6460598

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27358033#27361219

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27358033#27358033

MONEY IN POLITICS

PAC Dollars to Incumbents (person seeking reelection)

George W. Bush (R)  $367,228,801

John Kerry (D) $328,479,245

Ralph Nader (3) $4,567,299

Michael Badnarik (L) $1,093,013Michael Peroutka (3) $709,087David Cobb (3)   $496,658

2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

$ SPENT

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES – PAC’s

•a private group,

•organized to elect or defeat government officials

•to promote legislation, often supporting the group's special interests.

•political organizations

•influence governmental action in a specific area (CHANGE LAWS)

• persuade legislators

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS SIG’s

(lobby groups)

Hard money – money contributed to campaign - must be reported - limited

Soft money – money contributed to campaign -

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/mems.asp

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A Quick Summary: The Priorities BookReview this companion to the full policy book. Download the book, or order print copies.

Health Care and Supportive ServicesLifelong health and independence are not guarunteed. That's why everyone needs protection to cover high costs of care that may someday be needed.

Livable CommunitiesThe vast majority of older people want to stay in their homes and communities while they are fit and healthy, and even after they begin to need long-term support.

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27358033#27321996