Lesson 1:  Who Can Vote?

Lesson 1 (cont’d.):  The Media and Elections

Qualifying to Vote (Eligibility)

• U.S. citizen

• Age: 18 – yrs. old + (by Election Day)

• Resident of the state and county for at least 30__ days before election (NJ)

• Registered in the state at least 21_ days before next election. (Memory Tool: C-A-R-R)

How to Register

• Where registration applications can be obtained: libraries, municipal clerks, Divisions of Motor Vehicles, Village Website, Elections Commission site, etc.

• Provide name, address, age, party preference (or ”unaffiliated”) in some states (not required in NJ);

• First-time voters: provide proof of citizenship, address, and age using driver’s license or birth certificate.

• Receive district /precinct assignment and polling place, voter registration card

Steps in Voting and Vote Counting

1. Go to polling place – well-known place such as school, church, fire house. (_6___A.M. - __8___ P.M.)

2. Review sample ballot (list of candidates by position sought and party they represent)

3. Approach clerk and _challengers__, announce your name, have your address verified, and sign a book containing a copy of your registration signature.

4. If challenged, more ID is needed, otherwise receive a ticket to go to the booth.

5. Election judge____ at the booth -- collects ticket, ensures secrecy, provides help if needed.

6. Once inside booth, cast your vote, usually electronically in NJ (see pgs. 314-315 for others).

7. Absentee ballots can be used by the sick, the military, those traveling on Election Day, or anyone now. Called “Vote-By-Mail” ballots now in NJ and other states.

8. Exit polls__ are often conducted by the media to try to predict winners in advance.

9. Voting results, called returns_, are provided when ballots are counted by the election board.

10. Results sent to state authorities and certified by 

Secretary of State/Lieutenant Gov.

• TV networks try to project winners of major national and state elections. How?  With “exit polls.”

• These are very controversial, as such projections are made when western voters are still voting, which can influence results.  (Why? Or, how?)

Why Your Vote Matters

• Registration is first, then you must be prepared to vote by:

  • Being informed about candidates/issues

  • Separating fact from opinion

  • Considering a candidate’s similarity to your values, his/her reliability and honesty, past experience, and likely effectiveness

• Electorate – all eligible voters (though not all eligible voters actually go and vote.)

• Voter turnout – the percentage of the electorate that votes.  American voter turnout tends to be shamefully low! (2008 presidential election– only 67% in NJ!  It’s worse for state/local elections!)

Why Some People Do Not Vote

• Don’t reregister when necessary – name, address, or signature change requires this! (Memory Tool: SNAP)

• See no desirable candidate

• Apathy – lack of interest; here applies to politics

• Many don’t think one vote matters

• They say they are just “too busy”! (#1 reason)

Why People Should Vote (Mem. Tool: ROQ)

Reasons for Voting (to “ROQ” the vote) Include…

1. To exercise the right to choose gov’t. leaders

2. Voice opinion of officials’ past performance

3. Vote on important public issues/questions

Types of People Who Vote Most Have…

1. Positive attitude toward gov’t and citizenship

2. Usually more education

3. Usually higher the income

4. Middle-aged status (the highest turnout!)

5. Were once, or are now,  married

Lesson 2:  Elections and Campaigns

Sect. 2:  Elections and Campaigns

Types of Elections

1. Primary elections – in which party members select candidates to run in general elections. (NJ’s method)

   1. Helps narrow field of candidates to top choice

   2. A few states use caucuses (party meetings)

2. General elections – always first Tuesday after first Monday in November. (Election Day)

   1. In even-numbered years, full U.S. House of Reps. and 1/3 of Senate.

   2. Presidential elections (see below) are held every four years in even-numbered years.

   3. Many state, county, and local candidates are on ballot as well.

   4. Results, if close, may be recounted

3. Elections on Issues

   1. Initiatives – citizens propose laws or state constitutional amendments.  Obtaining enough voters’ signatures on a petition gets the proposed law, or proposition, on the ballot.

   2. Referendum – proposal to repeal a law

   3. Almost ½ the states can have laws referred, or sent back, to voters for approval in next general election.*

4. Special Elections

   1. Runoff – held when results are too close to call, or a clear majority is needed to win**

   2. Recall – after obtaining enough petitioners, voters can vote to remove an official.***

Presidential Elections

1.   Candidates campaign

2.   Party members choose main candidate during primary     

      elections  or caucuses (party business  meetings)

3.   At national, summer conventions, parties make their

      nomination (#1 choice) official (though we already 

      know before the convention)

4.   General election – November, when voters cast ballots

5.   Electoral College -- votes in December in state capitals

6.   President is sworn in on January 20th 

*all states have “legislative measures/propositions” which are public questions for voter approval; NJ does not allow either initiatives or a citizen referendum, only legislative.

**between two candidates with results too close to legally decide the race

***NJ – any elected official in the state or representing the state in Congress; requires 25% of registered voters’ signatures in the official’s district over 160 days, or 320 days for governor or U.S. senator

Before November’s general election, candidates appear on TV, hold news conferences, have debates, meet state and local political leaders, and give pep talks to lower-level party members working for them, and try to gain voters’ support.  This is called “campaigning.”

Electoral Votes and the States

• In other elections - candidate with majority of popular vote, cast directly by voters, wins.

• In presidential elections, voters actually choose loyal party electors* who meet separately the following month to cast electoral votes in the Electoral College.

• State’s number of electors is the number of its U.S. representatives plus its two U.S. senators (NJ = 14).

• The popular vote decides which slate of loyal party electors gets to cast their votes in the Electoral College.

• Winner-take-all system --Candidate winning the most popular votes receives all of the state’s electoral votes (in all states but two).

• Electoral votes -- cast in December; counted in the U.S. Senate in January; candidate receiving 270 or more of the 538 votes wins; candidate is sworn in on January 20th.

Electoral College Issues

• Some feel highly populated states, like California and Texas, have too much influence.

• You can lose the popular vote, but win electoral vote (4x in history; 2000), and vice versa.

• Third parties are not represented.

• Reform (change) requires Constitutional amendment.

*Separate groups of electors are pledged toward each party’s candidate.  Candidates who win the popular vote get all of the state’s loyal electors who are already pledged to vote for him/her.