VOTING AND ELECTIONS

TYPES OF ELECTIONS Primary Election:

Members of political parties nominate candidates Republicans can only vote for their favorite

republican, democrats for their favorite democrat, and independents cannot vote.

General Election: All registered voters can vote for whomever they choose

Initiatives, Referendums, Recalls Initiative: citizens petition to vote on a specific law

or amendment Referendum: legislature asks citizens to vote on a

specific law or measure Recall: citizens petition to vote on removing a

politician from office

Republican primary candidates

No democratic primary

VOTING BASICSVoters must register

Why?Stop voter fraudKeep people from voting in

elections that don’t affect themParty registration

Voter I.D. Law – PennsylvaniaPro arguments?Con Arguments?

VOTING BASICS (CONT’D) Federal Election Day – Tuesday after the first Monday in

November Primary elections and local elections can be held anytime,

but are usually in Spring States make laws covering voter registration Local Governments generally run elections Everyone is designated a polling place based upon where

they live Different areas can have different ballot methods For example:

Electronic Punch cards Lever machines Paper ballots

INFLUENCING YOUR VOTE Advertising

Posters, Bumper Stickers, Yard Signs, etc… Personal Appearances Direct Mail Phone Calls Television/Radio Internet Ads

PACs Political Action Committees Independent Special Interest groups who donate money to

specific candidates or causes that support their views Federal law restricts how much money theycan donate to candidates, but NOT how muchthey can spend campaigning on their own

INFLUENCING YOUR VOTE Propaganda Techniques

Glittering Generalities Plain Folks/Family Bandwagon Transfer/Comparison Attack Ads: Card Stacking, Name Calling Celebrity Endorsement Humor?

Media Bias

CAMPAIGN FINANCE Individual Donations

Limited to $2500 per person Must report anyone who gives more than $200

Political Parties PACs FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Allows States to elect

President – Federalism Reflects how congress

actually works Keeps small states

involved Usually provides a clear

majority (1992) Usually provides a more

clear and certain result Prevents need for

recounts or runoffs in close elections

Popular choice can lose Disenfranchises voters in

“safe” states Gives greater power to

“swing” states Based upon political

considerations that are no longer relevant

Makes it difficult for a third party

If no one gets to 270, House of Representatives decides

Pros Cons

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Popular Vote Congressional District Method

Maine and Nebraska

Alternatives

Other Ideas?

FAITHLESS ELECTORS All potential electors are appointed by the political parties

or the presidential nominees When an elector casts a vote for someone other than the

candidate to whom they are pledged, they are a faithless elector – this is rare

Can happen on accident or on purpose

29 States have laws against this practice, though they have never been enforced

Faithless electors risk retaliation from their party A faithless elector has never changed the result of an

election