VOTING AND ELECTIONS

A. 2 Basic Types of Elections

Primary Election General Election

B. Primary Election

An election in which members of a political party nominate candidates.

C. Political Parties

A political party is a group of organized citizens who try to control government by getting their members elected to office.

Our country has 2 major parties. Republicans and Democrats.

D. General Election

In a general election voters make the final decision about candidates and issues.

E. Registering to Vote

Registering is the process of signing up to vote.

In Pennsylvania, a person can register by mail, when they get their drivers license, or in person at a number of offices and agencies.

Also, in Pennsylvania, a voter must be registered 30 days before the election in which they wish to vote.

F. When and Where to Vote

General Elections occur the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Primary Elections can happen at any time and vary state by state.

When a person votes, they vote at a polling place. This is near your home. You will be informed through the mail where your polling place is located.

Vocabulary

Polling Place- The location where people are assigned to cast their vote.

G. How to Cast a Vote

Arrive at the assigned polling place during voting hours.

Check-in with the voting official. Show photo identification. (New to PA) Sign your name in the registered voters

book. Enter voting booth and cast your vote.

List at least 3 steps to use the voting machines in PA.

Voting and Elections Video 1

H. How do candidates make their messages known?

Posters and bumper stickers. Personal appearances. Direct mail. The Internet. Media advertising.

I. Posters and Bumper Stickers

Allow candidates to have their names be seen in many places.

The more often a candidate’s name is seen, more interest is created about that candidate.

J. Personal Appearances

During a personal appearance, a candidate will speak specifically about his or her platform.

Usually done in a speech of some sort. Could also be in the form of a debate.

Vocabulary

Platform- The ideas and goals of a candidate.

Debate- A public discussion where 2 or more candidates answer and discuss questions asked of them by a moderator.

Moderator- Someone who runs a debate.

K. Direct Mail

Candidates send messages through the mail in order to inform the public about their ideas.

They can send mail to specific groups of people in order to highlight issues important to that group.

L. The Internet

Political candidates can connect with the public on the internet in a variety of ways. Blogs Facebook Twitter Any other social media

Vocabulary

Social Media- Web sites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

Quick Vocab Quiz

1. Polling Place- A. Someone who runs a debate.

2. Platform- B. A public discussion where 2 or more candidates answer and discuss questions

asked of them by a moderator.

3. Debate- C. The ideas and goals of a candidate.

4. Moderator- D. The location where people are assigned to cast their vote.

5. Social Media- E. Web sites and other online means of communication that are used by large

groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

M. Media Advertising

Candidates will advertise in newspapers, and magazines, and on television, radio, and the internet.

These advertisements can highlight a candidate’s message or show weaknesses in an opponent’s message.

In what ways has television changed the way someone runs

for office? Voting and Elections Video 2.

N. Propaganda

Often, candidates will use propaganda to try to gain an advantage in an election.

Vocabulary

Propaganda- Any message that only tells one side of the story, distorts the truth, or appeals mostly to people’s feelings.

O. Winning an Election

In most cases, the person who gets the most votes from the public, wins an election.

This is called the popular vote.

Vocabulary

Popular Vote- Each and every vote by a person is counted.

P. Winning a Presidential Election

Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, not by the popular vote.

Each state has a certain number of electors based on population. (Same number as the members of congress from that state)

The electors promise to vote for the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in his or her state.

Think of this process as each state being worth a certain number of points. The presidential candidate who gets the most points, wins!!!!(270 is the magic number)

Vocabulary

Electors- People who promise to cast their vote for the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each state.

Electoral College- The collective group of electors who choose the president.

Although this video is cheesy, List at least 3 things you found out about

electing a president while viewing it. Voting and elections video 3.

2012 Electoral Votes Per State

Quick Vocab Quiz1. Propaganda- A. Each and every vote by a person is

counted.

2. Popular vote- B. Any message that only tells one side of the story, distorts the truth, or appeals mostly to people’s feelings.

3. Electors- C. The collective group of electors who choose the president.

4. Electoral College- D. People who promise to cast their vote for the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each state.