Today’s Agenda Any Announcements? Any Questions? Let's Review our Bellwork.... Now... Let’s Begin Today’s Lesson…..

Our Standards Today Today's State Standard Standard 6.0: Individuals Groups & Interactions 6.1 understand the impact of individual and group decisions on citizens and communities. 6.3 understand the evolution of political parties and their role as a mechanism for creating and sustaining political participation. 6.5 understand the impact and influence of participatory citizenship on government at all levels.

Our objectives today Analyze how elections in the United States makes democracy work. Define the role of precincts and polling places in the election process. Describe various ways voters can cast their ballot. Outline the role voting devices play in the election process.

Elections “The best argument against democracy is a five- minute conversation with the average voter.” ― Winston Churchill “Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” ― Abraham Lincoln “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Our upcoming local elections Our local election commission has the key dates for this year's elections:

Early Voting Turn to page 189. Go to “Early Voting”

Coattail Effect Turn the page to page 190. Do you think local elections should be held on the same day as federal elections or on different dates? Why?

Remember Precincts and Wards? Precincts is where the polling places are located. Where are our voting precints? Where will you be voting?

The Australian Ballot A new voting arrangement was devised in Australia, where it was first used in an election in Victoria in It successes there led to its use in other countries. By 1900 nearly all of the States were using it, and it remains the basic form of the ballot in this country today. The Australian Ballot has four essential features: 1. It is paid for by the public through various forms of taxes. 2. It lists all the candidates that are running for office. 3. Each voter receives one ballot at the polls. 4. The voter marks the ballot in secret.

Office-Group Ballot – Page 191 The office-group ballot is the original form of the Australian ballot. It is also sometimes called the Massachusetts ballot because of its early use there. On the office-group ballot, the candidates for an office are grouped together under the title of that office. Because the names of the candidates thus appear as a block, the form is also sometimes called the office-block ballot. At first, the names of the candidates were listed in alphabetical order. Most States using the form now rotate the names.

Party Column Ballot – Page 191 The party-column ballot is also known as the Indiana ballot, from its early use in that State. It lists each party's candidates in a column under the party's name. Professional politicians tend to favor the party-column ballot. It encourages straight-ticket voting, especially if the party has a strong candidate at the head of the ticket. Most students of the political process favor the office-group form because it encourages voter judgment and split- ticket voting.

Sample Ballot Sample ballots, clearly marked as such, are available in most States before an election. In some States they are mailed to all voters, and they appear in most newspapers. They cannot be cast, but they can help voters prepare for an election. First in Oregon, and now in several States, an official voter's pamphlet is mailed to voters before every election. It lists all candidates and measures that will appear on the ballot. In Oregon, each candidate is allowed space to present his or her qualifications and position on the issues. Supporters and opponents of ballot measures are allowed space to present their arguments as well.

Bedsheet Ballot The ballot in a typical American election is lengthy, often and aptly called a "bed-sheet" ballot. It frequently lists so many offices, candidates, and ballot measures that even the most well-informed voters have a difficult time marking it intelligently. The long ballot came to American politics in the era of Jacksonian Democracy in the 1830s. Many held the view at the time that the greater the number of elective offices, the more democratic the governmental system. The idea remains widely accepted today.

Online Voting Group Work Time! :-) With your shoulder buddy, turn to page 195. Read “Face the Issues – Electronic Voting” Discuss the “Major Improvement” and “Beware of Electronic Voting” After you discuss this, we will then discuss the questions under “Exploring the Issues”

Our Standards Today Today's State Standard Standard 6.0: Individuals Groups & Interactions 6.1 understand the impact of individual and group decisions on citizens and communities. 6.3 understand the evolution of political parties and their role as a mechanism for creating and sustaining political participation. 6.5 understand the impact and influence of participatory citizenship on government at all levels.

Our objectives today Analyze how elections in the United States makes democracy work. Define the role of precincts and polling places in the election process. Describe various ways voters can cast their ballot. Outline the role voting devices play in the election process.

What Did We Learn Today? On a separate sheet of paper, answer these questions for me to take up and review. Assessment Questions What is a ballot? What determines where and how a person casts their ballot? What method of voting do you think is the best mode to hold a fair and honest election?