Election Day

Polling Places -Polling Places -precinct based Local places where voting actually happens on Election Day -Usually in schools, town halls, public places -open early and close late

Steps in Voting To vote, you go to the polling place, a location in your precinct, or voting district. You fill out and sign an application form at the clerk’s table. The clerk reads your name aloud and passes your application to a challenger’s table. The challenger looks up your registration form and compares your signature to the one on your application. If they do not appear to match, the challenger may ask for more identification.

General Elections -Elections are controlled by the local Board of Elections Controlled by the states (reserved) -General Election held November--1st Tuesday after 1st Monday All House seats, 1/3 of Senate seats, state and local leaders, President, issues -Plurality---winning the most votes -majority---getting more than half of the votes -most popular votes (plurality) wins most elections -majority of electoral votes determine the winner of the Presidency 270 electoral votes

Electoral College in the United States The United States College is a term used to describe the 538 Presidential Electors who meet every 4 years to cast the electoral votes for President and Vice President. Provisions for the mechanics of presidential elections were established by Article II, section 1 of the Constitution.

Electoral College How many electoral votes must someone win to become president? Why? What does it mean that the Electoral College has a winner-take-all system? Why might some candidates avoid the lower populated states?

Voting on Issues -Initiatives -method where citizens propose a bill through a petition and place it on the ballot for a general election vote New laws, amendments, school bonds, local issues -Referendums -method of public approval for a proposed bill where the legislature temporarily passes a bill until the public is given a chance to approve or disapprove the bill

Initiative Citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments through an initiative. If enough voters sign a petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot at the next general election.

Referendum Citizens may petition to have a state or local law referred, or sent back, to the voters as a referendum on the ballot. The voters can then approve or reject the law.

Casting Your Vote -must go to the polling place -I.D. is checked against list of registered voters Prove you are registered to vote at that polling place -cast your vote paper ballots lever machines punch cards computer -you may encounter an exit poll Ask how you voted to predict early returns (can influence voting)

Polls Public opinion is measured by polls which are which are random samplings of people, ideas, and attitudes. It is very important that a poll be unbiased, or FAIR (like an umpire). Many people feel polls do not give an accurate representation of information since they can be somewhat controlled and are given to much credibility.

Exit Polls Exit polls ask voters how they voted as they are leaving the polls on election day. The media uses them to predict the winners and losers. Because of different time zones, many people argue that exit polls might influence people on the West Coast.

Exit Polls can sometimes be inaccurate Exit Polls can sometimes be inaccurate. Polls predicted Truman’s defeat in the 1948 election and they were wrong!

Types of Votes -Straight Ticket -voting only for one political party -Split Ticket -voting for candidates from either party -Absentee Ballot For citizens who cannot be at the polls on election day; must request them early and return by mail -Write-In Votes Usually for third parties

Special Kinds of Elections -Referendums Voting on issues -Initiatives -Recounts Number of votes disputed Method of voting disputed -Run-Offs Determines the winner when there is no clear majority -Recalls Citizens can vote to remove a public official from office

Recall Election A recall is a special election in which citizens can vote to remove an official from office. Why might voters recall an official?