The Right to Vote

Packet 16

Your packet says we live in a democracy, but we really don’t

• It’s more of a “republic”

• Our country is run by people who are elected to office.

• The best way to get what you want as a citizen is to vote for people who have the same ideas as you.

Two kinds of elections:

• For candidates (people)

• Whether a primary or general election.

• Whether local, state, or federal – or all

• For issues

• Tax increases for schools, Fire Departments, Police, Libraries, Parks, etc…

• Issues such as smoking age, building a new ? In town, local decisions, new amendment decisions

Some ways people have been restricted from voting (in the past)

• Pre Civil War Amendments: no slaves could vote

• Early in U.S. History: had to own property to be able to vote

• Some states used to have poll taxes: needed to pay a fee to vote

• Some states wouldn’t let you vote unless you could read and write.

• Women couldn’t vote until 1920

• 26th Amendment: let people from 18-21 vote for the first time

Voting today:

• Anyone over 18 -

unless• You’ve been

convicted of a felony• If you have a mental

illness that keeps you from making good decisions

To register to vote:

• Elections are done through the County Clerk’s office.

• You have to register to vote at least 30 days before the election

• You must be an American citizen (born in the U.S. or born to American parents)

• You must be at least 18 years old on election day.

• You must have lived in the state for at least 30 days

One Vote

The enormous power of just one single vote has often been demonstrated throughout history.  The course of nations has been

changed because one important vote was cast or not cast.  You may think that your vote, cast among millions in a state or federal

election, cannot possibly count but it does.  Your one vote may swing your entire precinct into your candidate's column.  It is at

the precinct level that elections are won or lost.   Your vote is your direct voice in your country's affairs.  Every time you do not

exercise your right to go to the polls, you strengthen the voice of the opposition.   So lets use the power of the ballot.  Let's all get out and vote for the candidates of our choice on this and every

vital Election Day.

Some elections decided by small margins:

• In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.

• In 1649, one vote caused Charles 1 of England to be executed.

• In 1776, prior to the onset of the American Revolution.  The newly formed United States considered severing all ties with the mother country by changing our language from English to German.  A proposal for this was presented to Congress, but the vote ended in a tie.  The deadlock was finally broken when the son of a German immigrant cast his vote in favor of English.

and…

• In 1800, the presidential election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was tied - after ballots were cast 36 times by the House, the vote was still tied.  Then, one Federalist changed his vote.  Jefferson was elected President on the 37th ballot.

• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union. • In 1875, France became a Republic by one single vote. • In 1846, one vote for the Mexican War brought us not

only victory, but the territory of five great states, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California.

• In 1941, one vote saved Selective Service weeks before Pearl Harbor.