Elections and Voting Elections Types Primary Where we

Elections and Voting

Elections • Types: • Primary: Where we select the party’s candidates • General: Where we select which party gets the job • Policy(only at the state level): Where we decide specific issues (Laws) • Federal (National) elections are held every even numbered year • 1 st Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November • Presidential elections held every 4 years

Electoral College • When you vote for President you are not actually voting for the candidate but for an elector who will cast a vote for president • Every state is given a number of electors (Reps + Senators) • Total of 538 (3 for DC) • 270 Needed to win (simple Majority)

Campaigns • Campaign: The process by which candidates try to get elected • Campaign manager: The person in charge of the overall strategy to get a candidate elected • Campaign strategy: The game plan for getting a candidate elected • For Presidential candidates state and local party officials coordinates the campaign at the local level

Financing Campaigns • Paying for a campaign is EXPENSIVE • Raising money for a campaign is regulated by the federal government • Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) • FECA: Requires candidates disclose (tell)their spending, provides public money for their campaign, prohibits labor unions and businesses from making direct contributions, and limits how much individuals and groups can contribute • If a candidate uses public funds they must agree to a spending limit

Expanding Voting Rights • In 1800 only white, male, poperty owners over the age of 21 could vote • The property restriction was dropped state by state through the early 1800’s • 1870 - 15 th amendment gives African American males the right to vote • 1914 - 19 th Amendment gives women the right to vote • 1971 - 26 th Amendment gives 18 yr olds the right to vote

African American Suffrage • 15 th Amendment grants African Americans the right to vote but • Many states try to disenfranchise (keep them from voting) them • Grandfather Clause-You can only vote if your grandfather voted • Used by southern states to keep former slaves and other African Americans from voting • Literacy Tests- Reading tests you must pass to vote • Poll Tax-Must pay a tax to vote(24 th Amendment makes these illegal) • Voting Rights Act of 1965 does away with other barriers to voting and gives the Federal government power to enforce

Influences on Voters • Voters Background • Political Party Loyalty • Issues • Image • Propaganda

Voter Background • Age-The older you are the more likely you are to vote • Education-The more educated you are the more likely you are to vote • Race-Until the 2008 election whites were more likely to vote than other groups • Religion-Certain religions vote for certain parties • HOW YOUR PARENTS VOTED- you are more likely to vote like your parents. Single biggest predictor of how you will vote

Party Loyalty • Most people pick a party that shares the same ideas on most political issues • Economics, war, education, abortion, etc • People who share most of a party’s beliefs will be more loyal • The more loyal you are to the party the more likely that you will vote a Straight Party Ticket • Voting for every democrat/republican on the ballot • This gives voters some ease in voting knowing how each candidate will likely behave if they take office

Issues • What are the issues? • How do you stand on the issues? • How does your candidate stand on the issues? • How likely is your candidate likely to get elected?

Image • How well is the candidate perceived (Seen)? • Major image factors: • Trustworthiness/Integrity • Reliability • Competence(Their ability to handle the job, or their knowledge of how to handle the job

Propaganda • Uses ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion • Tries to evoke your emotions • Heavy on emotion, light on facts