Chapter 10Chapter 10

Section 3Section 3

Voter QualificationVoter Qualification

Each state determines qualifications for Each state determines qualifications for registering to vote and votingregistering to vote and voting

States must follow certain guidelinesStates must follow certain guidelines1.1. Can not deny right to vote to those over Can not deny right to vote to those over

18182.2. Can not deny right to vote based on Can not deny right to vote based on

race, color, or sex.race, color, or sex.3.3. Can not require voter to pay a tax before Can not require voter to pay a tax before

votingvoting

Voter RegistrationVoter Registration

Most states require voters to register Most states require voters to register before votingbefore voting

-- Name, address, date of birthName, address, date of birth Names of registered voters placed on Names of registered voters placed on

voter roll.voter roll. Makes sure no one votes more than once.Makes sure no one votes more than once. Voters can register as members of a Voters can register as members of a

political party or as political party or as independent votersindependent voters

ElectionsElections

Two types pf electionsTwo types pf elections

1.1. Primary ElectionsPrimary Elections - allow voters to - allow voters to choose which party candidates will run in choose which party candidates will run in the laterthe later

2.2. General ElectionGeneral Election - where voters choose - where voters choose their leaders from candidates offered by their leaders from candidates offered by all the political parties all the political parties

Primary ElectionsPrimary Elections

Two types of Primary ElectionsTwo types of Primary Elections1.1.Closed primaryClosed primary - only voters who are - only voters who are

registered members of a particular party registered members of a particular party are allowed to choose their parties are allowed to choose their parties candidate.candidate.

Independent voters can not voteIndependent voters can not vote2.2.Open PrimaryOpen Primary - voters can vote for - voters can vote for

candidates from any party, whether or not candidates from any party, whether or not they belong to that partythey belong to that party

Primary ElectionsPrimary Elections

In most states, the candidate with the most In most states, the candidate with the most votes wins the primary electionsvotes wins the primary elections

Some states require a candidate to Some states require a candidate to receive a majority of votes to win a primaryreceive a majority of votes to win a primary

-- If no candidate receives a majority, the top If no candidate receives a majority, the top 2 candidates will have a 2 candidates will have a run-offrun-off election.election.

Independent CandidatesIndependent Candidates

If a candidate does not belong to a party, If a candidate does not belong to a party, they can have their name placed on the they can have their name placed on the ballot if enough supporters sign a ballot if enough supporters sign a petitionpetition

Some state allow voters to Some state allow voters to write inwrite in the the name of candidatesname of candidates

Early Presidential PrimariesEarly Presidential Primaries

Before the presidential elections, voters Before the presidential elections, voters from all 50 states hold primary elections to from all 50 states hold primary elections to choose their candidate of choicechoose their candidate of choice

Candidates try to gain momentum by Candidates try to gain momentum by winning early primary electionswinning early primary elections

Which states hold early Which states hold early primary elections?primary elections?

Early PrimariesEarly Primaries

Candidates who win these election receive Candidates who win these election receive media attention and are better able to media attention and are better able to raise moneyraise money

Candidates who fail to win the Iowa Candidates who fail to win the Iowa Caucuses or the New Hampshire primary Caucuses or the New Hampshire primary often drop out of the election.often drop out of the election.

Early PrimariesEarly Primaries

Iowa CaucusIowa Caucus-- Population 3 million Population 3 million -- 94% white94% white New Hampshire PrimaryNew Hampshire Primary-- Population 1.3 millionPopulation 1.3 million- 96% white96% white

US Population 304 millionUS Population 304 million 79% white79% white

Is it fair that such small Is it fair that such small states, with populations that states, with populations that do not represent the U.S., do not represent the U.S., hold so much influence in hold so much influence in

presidential elections?presidential elections?

What would be a more fair What would be a more fair way to decide which way to decide which state(s) hold early state(s) hold early

primaries?primaries?

Warm Up:Warm Up:

How do political parties decide which How do political parties decide which candidate will represent them in the candidate will represent them in the general election?general election?

General ElectionGeneral Election

11stst Tuesday following 1 Tuesday following 1stst Monday in Monday in NovemberNovember

Presidential every 4 yearsPresidential every 4 years Congressional every 2 yearsCongressional every 2 years Even numbered yearsEven numbered years

Casting the BallotCasting the Ballot Voting was initially done Voting was initially done viva voceviva voce, by voice., by voice. Paper ballots began to be used in the mid-1800s. Paper ballots began to be used in the mid-1800s.

Australian BallotAustralian BallotAlso known as the secret ballotAlso known as the secret ballot• Printed at public expensePrinted at public expense• List names of all candidates in an electionList names of all candidates in an election• Given out only at polls to qualified votersGiven out only at polls to qualified voters• Marked in secretMarked in secret

VotingVoting

Straight ticket votingStraight ticket voting - voting for all of the - voting for all of the candidates in one political partycandidates in one political party

Split ticket votingSplit ticket voting - choosing candidates - choosing candidates from more than one partyfrom more than one party

Office-Group and Party-Column Office-Group and Party-Column BallotsBallots

Sample BallotsSample Ballots

Some states, including California, provide Some states, including California, provide sample ballots before an electionsample ballots before an election

Lists all candidates and measures on ballotLists all candidates and measures on ballot Candidates are allowed space to present Candidates are allowed space to present

qualificationsqualifications Supporters and opponents of ballot measures Supporters and opponents of ballot measures

are allowed space to present argumentsare allowed space to present arguments

Voting Machines and InnovationsVoting Machines and Innovations

Early voting machines used Early voting machines used leverslevers

Electronic vote counting. Punch-Electronic vote counting. Punch-card ballots punch holes in card ballots punch holes in paper to indicate voter choice.paper to indicate voter choice.

-- “Hanging chads”“Hanging chads” Help America Vote Act has Help America Vote Act has

called for elimination of punch called for elimination of punch card ballotscard ballots

States now using optical scan States now using optical scan (scantron) ballots and touch (scantron) ballots and touch screen ballots (DRE).screen ballots (DRE).

Voting Machines and Voting Machines and InnovationsInnovations

Vote-by-mail elections have come into use in Vote-by-mail elections have come into use in recent years.recent years.

-- Oregon does all elections by ailOregon does all elections by ail Online voting is a trend that may be encountered Online voting is a trend that may be encountered

in the near futurein the near future

What are potential benefits and What are potential benefits and problems with online voting?problems with online voting?