Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

Before 1870, only white men Before 1870, only white men over the age of 21 could over the age of 21 could vote.vote.

1870 – 151870 – 15thth amendment gave amendment gave black men the right to vote.black men the right to vote.

1920 – 191920 – 19thth amendment gave amendment gave women the right to votewomen the right to vote

1971 – 261971 – 26thth amendment amendment gave 18 year olds the right gave 18 year olds the right to vote.to vote.

RequirementsRequirements

18 years old on election day. 18 years old on election day. (can register at 17 ½)(can register at 17 ½)

A U.S. citizenA U.S. citizenA resident of your district for A resident of your district for

30 days30 daysRegistered 21 days priorRegistered 21 days priorNot incompetent or serving a Not incompetent or serving a

jail sentencejail sentence

What is the difference in What is the difference in elections?elections?

Election of RepresentativesElection of Representatives–Voting for peopleVoting for people

Voting on Constitutional Voting on Constitutional Amendments Amendments –Fundamental changesFundamental changes

Voting on proposalsVoting on proposals–Tax increases etc.Tax increases etc.

Types of ElectionsTypes of Elections

Primary ElectionPrimary Election–Held before general elections Held before general elections to decide on one candidate.to decide on one candidate.

General ElectionGeneral Election–Every two years when all Every two years when all reps and 1/3 of senators are reps and 1/3 of senators are elected.elected.

2012 – vote for President 2012 – vote for President and Governor.and Governor.

Protecting your right to Protecting your right to vote.vote.

A voter cannot be arrested A voter cannot be arrested on election day unless he on election day unless he or she has committed a or she has committed a serious crime.serious crime.

Absentee votingAbsentee voting

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Two Party System – most Two Party System – most elections are won by a elections are won by a Republican or Democrat.Republican or Democrat.

Republicans dominated from Republicans dominated from 1860-1932.1860-1932.

Democrats – 1932 – 1952Democrats – 1932 – 1952Since then it has gone back Since then it has gone back

and forth.and forth.

Third PartiesThird Parties

Constitution PartyConstitution PartyGreen PartyGreen PartyLibertarian PartyLibertarian PartyReform PartyReform PartySocialist PartySocialist Party

MissouriMissouri

Swing State – very accurate at Swing State – very accurate at voting for the ultimate election voting for the ultimate election winner.winner.

Since 1904 – we have only Since 1904 – we have only been wrong three times. been wrong three times. (1956, 2008, 2012)(1956, 2008, 2012)

Peak – 18 electoral votes. Peak – 18 electoral votes. Current – 10 electoral votes.Current – 10 electoral votes.

Election of a PresidentElection of a President

Candidate SelectionCandidate Selection–A. 1-2 years before the A. 1-2 years before the election: potential election: potential candidates start looking for candidates start looking for support, making speeches, support, making speeches, collecting money.collecting money.

Feb – June: Select delegates Feb – June: Select delegates to the National Conventionto the National Convention

1. Caucus (political party 1. Caucus (political party meeting) – shows which meeting) – shows which candidates are most candidates are most popular at the timepopular at the time

–First one: Iowa (January)First one: Iowa (January)–Importance: shows ability Importance: shows ability to gathers support from to gathers support from voters, 1voters, 1stst on the on the scoreboard has scoreboard has “advantage”.“advantage”.

2.2. Presidential PrimaryPresidential Primary

a.a. Party voters vote in state wide Party voters vote in state wide electionelection

b.b. In some, it just shows In some, it just shows popularity, in others it elects popularity, in others it elects the delegatesthe delegates

c.c. New Hampshire: 1New Hampshire: 1stst Primary Primary (January)(January)

National ConventionNational Convention–1. Write a party platform 1. Write a party platform (party’s position on the (party’s position on the issues)issues)

–2. Choose the candidate2. Choose the candidate

–3. Presidential Candidate 3. Presidential Candidate announces his/her running announces his/her running mate mate A. How the Presidential A. How the Presidential candidate decides on a candidate decides on a running mate: Balance running mate: Balance the ticket.the ticket.

–Geography – different Geography – different part of the country to part of the country to pull more votespull more votes

–Conservative vs. liberalConservative vs. liberal–Other factors: age, Other factors: age, gender, ethnicitygender, ethnicity

Selecting Electors: SummerSelecting Electors: Summer–Vote for the President if Vote for the President if their candidate/party wins their candidate/party wins that statethat state

–Selected by each party in Selected by each party in each stateeach state

–Number of electors Number of electors determined by determined by population: MO has 10 population: MO has 10 now!now!

Campaign: Campaign: September/OctoberSeptember/October–A. Mostly in states with the A. Mostly in states with the most electoral votesmost electoral votes

–Key States: Magic Dozen – Key States: Magic Dozen – CA, NY, TX, FL, PA, IL, VA, CA, NY, TX, FL, PA, IL, VA, NC, GA, OH, MI, NJNC, GA, OH, MI, NJ

–B. Ads, Appearances, B. Ads, Appearances, DebatesDebates

–C. Cost – 2008 an estimated C. Cost – 2008 an estimated $5.3 Billion was spend on $5.3 Billion was spend on Presidential and Presidential and Congressional races. (a Congressional races. (a 27% increase since 2004)27% increase since 2004)

Money comes from:Money comes from:–1. Political Action 1. Political Action CommitteesCommittees

–2. Individuals2. Individuals–3. Fed. Income Tax3. Fed. Income Tax–4. Political Parties4. Political Parties

–5. Fundraising5. Fundraising

Election DayElection Day

First Tuesday after the first First Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every 4 Monday in November, every 4 years.years.–Ballot lists: candidate name Ballot lists: candidate name and partyand party

–People are really voting for People are really voting for electorselectors

–Winner take all: Winner take all: whichever candidate wins whichever candidate wins the popular vote in the the popular vote in the state gets all the state gets all the electors.electors.

–Example: RepublicanExample: Republican

Electoral Vote Counted Electoral Vote Counted (Early January) by (Early January) by CongressCongress–A. Need: 270/538A. Need: 270/538

President Inaugurated President Inaugurated (takes office): January 20(takes office): January 20thth – 20– 20thth Amendment. Amendment.