* What are 2 qualifications you have to meet in order to vote in the U.S.? * Which right is considered by many outside of this country to be our greatest freedom? * What are voting districts called? (HINT: Police Stations)

* In order to vote in U.S. elections you must be: * 18 years old * Resident of the state you’re voting in * Citizen of the U.S. * Registered to vote

* People eligible to vote are called the electorate * People’s voting rights will be denied if * They are inmates in mental hospitals * They have been convicted of a felony * They do not meet the residency requirements in their state

* The right to vote is considered to be our greatest freedom * People should exercise their right to vote because it allows citizens to * Choose their govt. leaders * Elect new leaders if dissatisfied with performance of current leaders * Express their opinions on public issues

* Precincts * Each address is assigned to a specific precinct number * Each precinct has specific locations where its residents go to vote (polling stations)

* General Election Day * 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov. * Could be voting for * President of the U.S. * Governor * Senators * Representatives * State Legislators * Any state, federal, or local officials * Mid-term Elections (Same Day as Above) * Elections in which members of Congress and some Governors are being elected, but not the President

* Election workers count votes after polls close * Ballots then taken to election board and they count votes again * News media and party workers try to predict winners as soon as possible through exit polls * also used to deter voter fraud

* Incumbent: The person currently holding an office. * Open Seat A Congressional election in which there is no INCUMBENT. * Safe Seat A Congressional district that is certain to vote for the candidate of one party.

* Currently 100 Members – 2 from each state * Term is 6 years * 1/3 (approx. 33) up for re-election every 2 years * The Class (I, II & III)of the Senator determines when they are up * For re-election. * Until passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913 Senators were in-directly elected. * Members must be at least 30 years old.

* Currently 435 Members – Number from each state based on population * Term is 2 years * All 435 up for re-election every 2 years * Members of the House of Reps were always directly elected. * Members must be at least 25 years old.

* Once each party has identified the person that will be their nominee the general election campaign begins. * It is the winner of this election that will become the President of the United States. * The general election is always held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. * Once every 4 years * Originally, the President would be the person that won the majority of the votes in the ELECTORAL COLLEGE, and the Vice-President would be the person that won the second most. * (This was changed with the passage of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1804