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Chapter Nine: Voting and Elections

Chapter Nine: Voting and Elections. Learning Objectives. Explain the difference between the voting-age population and the population of eligible voters. Identify the factors that influence voter turnout in the United States and evaluate the turnout trends.

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Chapter Nine: Voting and Elections

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  1. Chapter Nine: Voting and Elections

  2. Learning Objectives • Explain the difference between the voting-age population and the population of eligible voters. • Identify the factors that influence voter turnout in the United States and evaluate the turnout trends. • Identify and evaluate the reasons for non-voting in the United States. • Discuss problems that may result from low voter turnout.

  3. Learning Objectives • Describe and explain the significance of historical barriers to voting. • Describe how elections are conducted, including the various types of ballot and methods of voting. • Explain the function of Electoral College in presidential contests.

  4. Learning Objectives • Name and explain the significance of post-2000 electoral reforms. • Weigh the risk of voter fraud with the value of high voter turnout in understanding voter registration.

  5. Turning Out to Vote • Voting Age Population: 231 million • Eligible Voters: 208.3 million • Those who Voted: 127.5 million (55%)

  6. Turning Out to Vote

  7. Turning Out to Vote • Effect of Low Voter Turnout • Some feel low voter participation is a threat to representative democratic government. • Others feel it represents satisfaction with the status quo.

  8. Turning Out to Vote

  9. Turning Out to Vote

  10. Turning Out to Vote • Factors Influencing Who Votes • Age • Educational attainment • Minority status • Income level • Two-party competition

  11. Turning Out to Vote Why People Do Not Vote • Uninformative Media Coverage • Negative Campaigning • Rational Ignorance Effect

  12. Turning Out to Vote

  13. Legal Restrictions on Voting Historical Restrictions: • Property requirements • Race • Gender • Age

  14. Legal Restrictions on Voting Current Eligibility: • Citizenship • Must be 18 • Residency

  15. How Are Elections Conducted? The United States uses an Australian ballot, a secret ballot prepared, distributed, and counted by government officials at taxpayer expense. • Office block ballot • Party-column ballot

  16. How Are Elections Conducted?

  17. How Are Elections Conducted?

  18. How Are Elections Conducted? • Voting by Mail: usually used for absentee ballots • Importance of Voting Machines

  19. The Electoral College • Choice of Electors: state’s number of electors equals that state’s number of senators (two) plus its number of representatives. • Electors’ Commitment: electors are pledged to cast their votes for the candidate that wins in their state. • The ballots are counted and certified before a joint session of Congress early in January. • Candidates need 270 electoral votes to win.

  20. The Electoral College • Criticisms of the Electoral College • Critics say it is elitist to not let the people directly elect the president. • Presidential campaigning is focused on the states with the most electors. • System favors smaller states.

  21. Web Links • The Center for Voting and Democracy: a source of analysis and perspective on improving how elections are held in the United States: www.fairvote.org. • National Conference of State Legislatures: Find out what different states are doing to ensure the vote: www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/elect.htm.

  22. What If…Voting By Mail Became Universal? Oregon is the only state that has eliminated precinct polling places, and everyone votes by mail. Proponents argue that it is: • the best way to increase voter participation • more accurate • cheaper

  23. What If…Voting By Mail Became Universal? Critics of voting by mail argue that: • it subverts the political process when voters cast ballots before debates and all information is available. • it deprives voters of secrecy and increases possibility of fraud. • represents abandonment of important civic duty of going to polls on election day.

  24. You Can Make a Difference: Registering and Voting • Nearly every state requires individuals to register to vote. • Even though your vote is one of many, it adds to the constituency represented in the national, state, and local governing bodies.

  25. You Can Make a Difference: Registering and Voting To register and cast a vote, you must: • Be a U.S. citizen • 18 years old • Resident of the state in which you intend to register

  26. You Can Make a Difference: Registering and Voting For more information on voting registration, contact your: • county or state officials • party headquarters • labor union • local chapter of the League of Women Voters at www.lwv.org.

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