2.  Primary Election  General Election

3.  An election in which members of a political party nominate candidates.

4.  A political party is a group of organized citizens who try to control government by getting their members elected to office.  Our country has 2 major parties. Republicans and Democrats.

5.  In a general election voters make the final decision about candidates and issues.

6.  Registering is the process of signing up to vote.  In Pennsylvania, a person can register by mail, when they get their drivers license, or in person at a number of offices and agencies.  Also, in Pennsylvania, a voter must be registered 30 days before the election in which they wish to vote.

7.  General Elections occur the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.  Primary Elections can happen at any time and vary state by state.  When a person votes, they vote at a polling place. This is near your home. You will be informed through the mail where your polling place is located.

8. Polling Place- The location where people are assigned to cast their vote.

9.  Arrive at the assigned polling place during voting hours.  Check-in with the voting official.  Show photo identification. (New to PA)  Sign your name in the registered voters book.  Enter voting booth and cast your vote.

10.  Voting and Elections Video 1

11.  Posters and bumper stickers.  Personal appearances.  Direct mail.  The Internet.  Media advertising.

12.  Allow candidates to have their names be seen in many places.  The more often a candidate’s name is seen, more interest is created about that candidate.

13.  During a personal appearance, a candidate will speak specifically about his or her platform.  Usually done in a speech of some sort.  Could also be in the form of a debate.

14. Platform- The ideas and goals of a candidate. Debate- A public discussion where 2 or more candidates answer and discuss questions asked of them by a moderator. Moderator- Someone who runs a debate.

15.  Candidates send messages through the mail in order to inform the public about their ideas.  They can send mail to specific groups of people in order to highlight issues important to that group.

16.  Political candidates can connect with the public on the internet in a variety of ways.  Blogs  Facebook  Twitter  Any other social media

17. Social Media- Web sites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

18. 1. Polling Place-A. Someone who runs a debate. 2. Platform- B. A public discussion where 2 or more candidates answer and discuss questions asked of them by a moderator. 3. Debate- C. The ideas and goals of a candidate. 4. Moderator-D. The location where people are assigned to cast their vote. 5. Social Media-E. Web sites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

19.  Candidates will advertise in newspapers, and magazines, and on television, radio, and the internet.  These advertisements can highlight a candidate’s message or show weaknesses in an opponent’s message.

20.  Voting and Elections Video 2.

21.  Often, candidates will use propaganda to try to gain an advantage in an election.

22. Propaganda- Any message that only tells one side of the story, distorts the truth, or appeals mostly to people’s feelings.

23.  In most cases, the person who gets the most votes from the public, wins an election.  This is called the popular vote.

24. Popular Vote- Each and every vote by a person is counted.

25.  Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, not by the popular vote.  Each state has a certain number of electors based on population. (Same number as the members of congress from that state)  The electors promise to vote for the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in his or her state.  Think of this process as each state being worth a certain number of points. The presidential candidate who gets the most points, wins!!!!(270 is the magic number)

26. Electors- People who promise to cast their vote for the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each state. Electoral College- The collective group of electors who choose the president.

27.  Voting and elections video 3.

29. 1. Propaganda-A. Each and every vote by a person is counted. 2. Popular vote- B. Any message that only tells one side of the story, distorts the truth, or appeals mostly to people’s feelings. 3. Electors- C. The collective group of electors who choose the president. 4. Electoral College- D. People who promise to cast their vote for the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each state.