1. Elections in the U.S.

2. U.S. = Democracy Majority rules
Republic- Leaders are chosen by voters to make government decisions.

3. How are these leaders chosen?
Election- Formal process for choosing government leaders.
Vote- Giving your opinion on who should be elected.
Elections happen…
Nationally (Ex: U.S. President)
State wide (Ex: Governor of Minnesota)
Locally (Ex: Mayor of Richfield)

4. Types of Elections…
Primary Election – Members within political parties run against each other to become the nominee.
General Election- Nominees from different political parties run against each other to be elected to an office.
Vs.
Vs.

5. Qualifications to vote in Minnesota
U.S. citizen
18 or older
No current felonies
Qualifications to vote in Minnesota
Not declared “mentally incompetent” by a court or judge
Resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days before the election
Must fill out a voter registration card

6. How do you vote?
Step #1- Register to vote ahead of time or same-day (Bring your state ID or DL for same-day)
Step #2- Find your correct polling place and go there (7 a.m.- 8 p.m.)
Step #3- Fill out and submit your ballot

7. What’s on the ballot? Positions & Candidates running for them.
Levy- Tax increase to help schools or other cause.
Amendment- A permanent change to the Constitution.

8. Excuses given for NOT voting
My vote won’t count
Politics don’t effect me
It doesn’t matter who gets elected
I have to work
I’ll be out of town on election day

9. Why get involved? (Write down 3)
Make your voice heard
Tell the government what laws you like/don’t like
Sometimes elections are very close
You can vote ahead of time by mailing in an absentee ballot
It does matter who gets elected
Laws that are passed do effect you

10. What’s the best color of Starburst candy?
*Let’s vote on it…three different ways!

11. Ballot #1- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #1- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #1- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #1- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink

12. Ballot #2- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Rank your favorites 1= favorite, 4 = least favorite
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #2- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Rank your favorites 1= favorite, 4 = least favorite
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #2- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Rank your favorites 1= favorite, 4 = least favorite
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #2- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Rank your favorites 1= favorite, 4 = least favorite
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink

13. Ballot #3- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #3- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #3- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink
Ballot #3- What’s the best color of Starburst Candy?
*Directions: Put a check by your favorite one
__Red
__Yellow
__Orange
__Pink

14. Election Results
First way
Second way
Third way

15. Voting for the best Starburst Candy Questions
1. How were the three ways similar? How were they different?
2. Which way of voting did you like the best? Why?
3. How is this activity related to elections in the U.S.?

16. Different ways of voting…
Popular Vote- Citizens vote for a candidate, whoever gets the most votes wins.
Ranked Choice Vote- Citizens vote by ranking their choices for candidate. Whoever gets more than 50% of the vote wins.
Electoral Vote- Each state is given a certain number of points (electoral votes) based on its population. Citizens of each state vote for a candidate, special “Electors” from each state decide will win their state’s points.

17. Number of electoral votes- Assigned to each state based on population

19. Electoral College: For or Against?
Voters don’t directly elect the president
The candidate elected may not be preferred by the majority of Americans (Ex: 2000 Bush v. Gore)
Makes it harder for more than two candidates to run for president
It’s tradition
There have only been a few issues with it throughout U.S. history
Forces candidates to focus on getting support from a variety of states

20. Electoral Map Vocab
Safe States- Usually votes for the same political party every Presidential Election.
(Ex: California = Democrat)
Battleground States- May change political party support depending on the candidate and election year.
(Ex: North Carolina = 2008 Democrat, 2012 Republican)