1. Primary v. General Elections Primary Elections – an election in which party members or voters select from candidates within a party to determine who will run in the general election – Narrow candidates for office (1/party) General Election – an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election. – Opposing parties candidates run v. each other – Determines who will hold the elected office – Congressional v. Presidential Elections Turnout is different

2. Voting Behavior & Elections How Does The Census Fit In?

3. Last census: 2010 The Census: Done Every 10 Years…Why? – Overall Population Count – Apportion Federal Funding to States for Social/Economic Programs – Demographics What areas in the U.S. are currently experiencing largest growth? – Reapportionment…what is it? Reallocation of 435 seats in the House of Representatives based on changes in residency/population found in census Increase/decrease state’s electoral vote Increase/decrease state’s influence in Congress

4. Reapportionment 1960 - 2010

5. Reapportionment How Might This Influence Future Presidential Elections? Congressional Elections?

6. Selecting a President Great Debate at the Constitutional Convention – Option 1: Congress Chooses the President Why Not? – Option 2: Popular Vote Would this option be the most democratic? – Consider today:  next slide – Option 3: Voting by State Which states would be against this?

7. Top Populations Today. 6 states = 41% of the U.S. population California … 12% of U.S. Pop… same pop as Poland Texas… 8.55% … Ghana Florida… 6.31%... Romania New York… 6.16%.... Niger Illinois… 4.00% …. Guinea Pennsylvania… 3.98% …… Zimbabwe

8. Solution = Electoral College Representation based off of population via representation…

9. Electoral College How many electoral votes does a state get? – One for each representative and senator (total # in Congress) Electoral College – Delegates selected by each party at state conventions to vote for Pres./VP…who’s selected? – Typically vote along with the state’s popular vote – Most states: Winner Take All System

10. Electoral College How many votes must a candidate receive? – 270/538 – (50% +1) – What if no candidate wins a majority? Who votes? House Of Representatives votes among the top 3

12. Meanwhile… Headline of the Morning: – Apple refusing to follow a court order forcing them to unlock an encrypted phone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters

13. Electoral College Why? Represents all states Makes campaigning easier Decreases urban influence Encourages a 2 party system… – Original intent: Who does this benefit? – ELITE! – Distrust for democracy

14. Electoral College Criticisms – Potential for a tie – Winner of popular vote may not win – Faithless Electors – member of the ELECTORAL COLLEGE – who doesn’t vote according to promised party lines – Disproportionate attention given to swing states – Disprop. Power to small states WY: 1/190,000 v. CA: 1/690,000 – Winner Take All System discourages 3 rd parties – May decrease voter turnout (i.e. Dem. In Texas)

19. Minority Majority How will Texas changing demographics influence the vote… Growing Latino vote changing state from solid red to becoming more “purple”…might we see a shift to blue in 50 years? Why or why not? When a minority population of the U.S. becomes the majority population within a voting region (like a state or district)

20. Solutions to Electoral College Does the Electoral College need to be reformed, abolished, or remain unchanged? Why haven’t we changed systems?

21. Solutions?

22. Abolish it – go with the popular vote Reform it

23. Solutions? Congressional District Method – What Maine and Nebraska currently use – One electoral vote for each district – Winner of statewide election gets the 2 electoral votes given for the 2 senators

25. Gerrymandering – Drawing of district lines to give an electoral majority to 1 party in a large # of districts; while limiting opposition Goals: – Strengthen political party/ minimize strength of opposition At state and national level – Protect incumbents (or hurt opposing incumbents) – Increase or decrease minority representation

26. What Are These Things?

27. Ideal World w/o Gerrymandering

28. Types of Gerrymandering Wasted Vote – spreads opposition across many districts to keep them in the minority

29. Types of Gerrymandering Excess Vote – concentrates opposition into a few districts

30. Types of Gerrymandering Stacked – links distant areas of like-minded voters through oddly shaped boundaries

32. Reapportionment: Piecing It Together Constitutional Limits: – Baker v. Carr; One Man, One Vote – Wesberry v. Sanders; race can’t be sole factor Additional Limits – Districts must be contiguous Issue before the supreme court– – One man, one vote? Or one eligible voter, one vote?

33. Totalregistration.net

34. Reforming Congressional Redistricting Are there any solutions that might make this system more democratic? – Move away from single member-plurality districts? – Have courts/non-partisan commissions draw congressional districts?

37. Relate this back to the ELECTORAL COLLEGE possible solutions… Congressional District Method – One electoral vote for each district – Winner of statewide election gets the 2 electoral votes given for the 2 senators Look at Texas

39. How is Redistricting related to Reapportionment? – Redrawing of district lines w/in states based on allocated # of seats…result of Reapportionment – results in change in H.o.R. Districts Why does the “majority party” that controls state legislature have a major advantage? – Redraw Lines to their party’s advantage – Strategies? Concentrate Opponents in a minimal # of districts; disperse opponents etc…

40. Consider the following scenario 2012 – Pennsylvania has 20 electors. Obama wins 52% of the vote… through winner-take- all, those 20 electors vote for him 18 House Seats were available – democrats won 5 of them, giving Pennsylvania a Republican majority in the House and in their own legislature as well

41. PA district 7

44. Voter Registration How is the voter registration process an example of Federalism? Why Register?

45. Qualifications Set by State Citizenship – U.S. Citizen Residence Registration Criminal Records – Most felons are denied right to vote – Is voting an inalienable right that can’t be taken?

46. History of Registration Voting Rights Act of 1965: – Prohibits any govt. from using voting procedures that deny right to vote on basis of race/color – Outlaws literacy tests – People eligible to vote in all elections – Fed. Govt. power to register voters (Fed. Registrars) Motor Voter Law: – Make it easier to register…permit people to register while applying for license – Minimal effect Increased # Registered, NOT VOTING