1. All you ever wanted to know and more!
Elections
All you ever wanted to know and more!

2. Benefits of elections Give the government legitimacy
Actually fill public office
Help organize the government
Keep the government accountable

3. Realities of elections
Elections don’t always put in the best candidate as voters sometimes vote against someone rather than for someone.
Voters must be willing to spend time seeking out information and learning about issues to make the best choices.
When parties and presidents satisfy the public, they are rewarded. When they don’t, they’re “punished” (even if they’re not to blame).
Next on
Jersey Shore . . .

4. The Electoral College
Definition – representatives from each state who cast the ballots which actually elect the president
A result of a compromise between the Framers – one side wanted Congress to pick the president, the other wanted the people to do it.
At first, this had practical applications as no mass media existed to inform the voting masses of the candidates and issues.
The electors, however, would be educated men familiar with politics and its workings.

5. Electoral College (cont.)
The original design was to:
work without parties
cover the nomination and election of presidents
produce a nonpartisan president
Of course, this didn’t work.
What about Faithless Electors?????????

6. Voter Behavior
Turnout – the segment of the voting-age public that actually votes.
Around 40% of eligible voters in the U.S. vote regularly.
Around 25% vote occasionally.
Around 35% rarely or never vote.

7. Let’s check your answers!
Who votes?
Let’s find out!
Let’s check your answers!
More Likely
Incomes over $40,000
30 and older
Whites
College graduates
Interested in politics
Less Likely
Incomes under $40,000
29 and under & 70+
African-Americans
Below a college degree
Not interested in politics

8. Why is turnout so low? Difficult registration process
Individual is responsible for registering; the government does not automatically register its citizens
Hard to vote absentee
Many states require you apply in person to vote absentee
Number of elections
So many elections, people claim they lose their importance. Or, they forget which ones are the most important.
Voter attitude
Alienated by the government / General distrust of the government
Apathetic
Lack of important issues
Satisfied with how things are
Uncontested elections (not close)
Petty campaign issues / Mudslinging campaign ads
Weak parties
We’ve gone from grassroots parties to ones which are run at the national level – little connection to the voter