to the Volusia County Department of Elections Student Election and Education Program.

The goal of this presentation is to highlight the importance of voting and the difference that it can make in your life.

We provide schools with: Classroom presentations Registration of 17 and 18 year olds Use of our voting equipment for student government elections.

Every year the Elections Department holds elections. Depending on the year, the ballot can contain the names of candidates for: President, Vice President, US Senate, Governor, County Council, Sheriff, Mayor, etc.

Voting gives a citizen power. Elected officials work for you and they are paid with tax dollars. As in any successful business, there needs to be a qualified leader—same for elected officials $ $ $ $

And since your tax dollars pay their salaries you should have some input into their “hiring” or election. VOTING GIVES YOU THAT INPUT!

Some people feel that their one vote doesn’t matter. EVERY VOTE MATTERS. In history, one vote has made a difference various times.

In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. By a margin of just one vote, Texas, California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho became states.

In 1923, members of a recently- formed political party met at a beer hall in Munich to elect a leader. By a majority of just one vote, they chose a soldier named Adolf Hitler. One of the greatest political trials in America’s history ended in May 1868, when an impeachment vote in the US Senate against President Andrew Jackson failed by just one vote.

In the Presidential election of 1960, one additional voter per precinct in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas would have denied John F. Kennedy the Presidency and placed Richard Nixon in the White House eight years sooner.

England’s King Charles I literally lost his head when the vote to behead him was 67 “against” 68 “for.” The ax fell because of one vote. Thomas Jefferson won the Electoral College vote in 1800 by only one vote.

In the Presidential Election of 2000, George W. Bush won by only 537 votes against Al Gore.

Michele McFall and Carl Carey tied in a race for a Deltona City Commission seat and was broken by a flip of a coin. On a local level, our current Supervisor of Elections, Deanie Lowe ran for the office of Volusia County Council in 1988 and won by only 22 votes! Vicky Jackson was also elected to the Council that same year, by a margin of only 6 votes!

It is especially important for young people to vote. Elected officials listen to voters. If you don’t vote, the one’s who do will have the “voice” and you’ll end up living with the decisions that were made without your input.

Recent election facts and voter turnout statistics show that only 7.9% of the voting population in Volusia County is between the age of The majority of voters are between followed closely by the 55-up population.

So more year olds need to register to vote. More importantly, once you’re registered, you need to put action to your commitment and actually vote.

Voting is easier than ever if getting out to the polls is difficult. Any registered voter is eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots may be requested in writing, by phone, e- mail or fax.

Registering to Vote is easy—to register, you must: Be a U.S. citizen Be a Florida resident. Be 18 years old (17 to pre-register) Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state. Not have been convicted of a felony in Florida, or any other state, without your civil rights having been restored. Not claim the right to vote in another county or state.

Kinds of Elections –A Primary is an election to narrow the field of candidates when several are running for the same office. To vote in a primary, you must be registered in that party. This means whatever party you choose, you can only vote for that party’s candidates, non-Partisan candidates and referendums in the primary election.

Kinds of Elections --A General Election is the final vote. No matter how you are registered, you may vote for a candidate of any party.

Florida is a Closed Primary State During a primary election, you will receive a ballot for the party with which you are affiliated. If you would like to change your party, you must do so at least 29 days before a First Primary or General Election.

THANKS! The Department of Elections thanks you for allowing us to present this program to you. Remember, “I Vote, I Count”