Warmup 10/11 Why do you think people do not

vote?

Part IIVoting and Elections

In the past what types of people were denied the right to vote? Women Native Americans African Americans Non-property holders

Today what are the requirements to vote in most

states? 18 years old US Citizen Registered (except N. Dakota) Convicted felons must have

served time

How did each of the following expand suffrage (right to

vote)? 15th Amendment – all males can vote 19th Amendment – all women can vote 23rd Amendment – residents of

Washington D.C. get 3 electoral votes 24th Amendment – no poll tax, poor can

vote Voting Rights Act of 1965 – literacy tests

prohibited 26th Amendment – 18 years and older

can vote Voting Rights Language Assistance Act –

use of bilingual ballots

What are the steps to voting?

1. Register: National Voter Registration Act “Motor Votor Bill” allows people to register when getting drivers license

To register for the first time you need proof of citizenship, address and age

Steps to Voting2. Go to you polling place – location

where voting is carried out – in your precinct – your voting district

3. Get a ballot – list of candidates4. Step up to voting booth or machine

and vote

How can citizens who cannot get to their polling place vote?

Absentee Ballot – must be asked for in advance, marked and returned to election board before Election Day

How is a winner determined in an election?

Election workers count votes and take ballots and results, called returns to the election board for verification.

Exit Polls Media try and predict winners by

asking (polling) voters on how they voted

Criticisms – may influence outcome by influencing those who have not voted yet

Why do some people not vote?

Do not meet state requirements Feel no candidate represents

their feelings Feel their vote will not make a

difference Apathy – lack of interest

Warmup #2 What do you think when you see a

campaign ad on TV?

What are the different techniques used in

campaigning for office? Canvassing – party members go

door to door asking for votes Advertising – allow party to

present only its candidate’s position and attack an opponent without response

Propaganda – an attempt to promote a particular person or idea

Propaganda Techniques The Bandwagon Glittering Generality Stacked Cards Transfer Just Plain Folks Name Calling Endorsement

Paying for campaigns “There are four parts to any

campaign. The candidate, the issues….., the campaign organization, and the money. Without the money you can forget the other three.”– Former House Speaker Tip O’Neill

How much do campaigns cost?

Every four years American spend more than

$3 BILLION a year on national, state, and local elections.

How do the candidates raise the money?

Money comes from: Private Citizens The Government Corporations and Interest

Groups Political Action Committees –

(PACs) Organizations set up by Interest Groups and Corp. to raise money for candidates

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

Established to place control on how much individuals and groups could give to candidates.

WHY?

FECA CharacteristicsPages 308-309

Created the FEC (Federal Election Commission)

Independent agency of the executive branch to administer campaign laws and watch spending

Limited Contributions In order to keep corruption out of

elections Cannot limit candidates own money

(1st Amendment)

Presidential Election Campaign Fund

allows taxpayers to designated $3 of taxes to set up public fund for Presidential candidates

What is the difference between soft money and hard

money? Hard Money – money given

directly to candidate for campaign; limited

Soft Money – money given to political parties for general purposes; was unlimited

What is an incumbent? Politicians who have already

been elected to office

Why would incumbents be reluctant to pass campaign

reform laws? Because most PACs give their

money to incumbents

What did the McCain-Feingold Act do to restrict campaign

financing? Prohibits raising soft money in

national campaigns Puts time restrictions on

broadcasting political adds Raised the limits on hard money

for campaigns

What trends are likely to come about in campaign financing in

the future? Focus on many small donations

rather than large Use of internet to campaign