Chapter Nine:

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• Chapter Nine
• Voting and Elections

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Learning Objectives

• Explain the difference between the voting-age
  population and the population of eligible voters.
• Identify the factors that influence voter turnout
  in the United States and evaluate the turnout
  trends.
• Identify and evaluate the reasons for non-voting
  in the United States.
• Discuss problems that may result from low voter
  turnout.

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Learning Objectives

• Describe and explain the significance of
  historical barriers to voting.
• Describe how elections are conducted, including
  the various types of ballot and methods of
  voting.
• Explain the function of Electoral College in
  presidential contests.
•  

4
Learning Objectives

• Name and explain the significance of post-2000
  electoral reforms.
• Weigh the risk of voter fraud with the value of
  high voter turnout in understanding voter
  registration.

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Turning Out to Vote

• Voting Age Population 231 million
• Eligible Voters 208.3 million
• Those who Voted 127.5 million (55)

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Turning Out to Vote
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Turning Out to Vote

• Effect of Low Voter Turnout
• Some feel low voter participation is a threat to
  representative democratic government.
• Others feel it represents satisfaction with the
  status quo.

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Turning Out to Vote
9
Turning Out to Vote
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Turning Out to Vote

• Factors Influencing Who Votes
• Age
• Educational attainment
• Minority status
• Income level
• Two-party competition

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Turning Out to Vote

• Why People Do Not Vote
• Uninformative Media Coverage
• Negative Campaigning
• Rational Ignorance Effect

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Turning Out to Vote
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Legal Restrictions on Voting

• Historical Restrictions
• Property requirements
• Race
• Gender
• Age

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Legal Restrictions on Voting

• Current Eligibility
• Citizenship
• Must be 18
• Residency

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How Are Elections Conducted?

• The United States uses an Australian ballot, a
  secret ballot prepared, distributed, and counted
  by government officials at taxpayer expense.
• Office block ballot
• Party-column ballot

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How Are Elections Conducted?
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How Are Elections Conducted?
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How Are Elections Conducted?

• Voting by Mail usually used for absentee
  ballots
• Importance of Voting Machines

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The Electoral College

• Choice of Electors states number of electors
  equals that states number of senators (two) plus
  its number of representatives.
• Electors Commitment electors are pledged to
  cast their votes for the candidate that wins in
  their state.
• The ballots are counted and certified before a
  joint session of Congress early in January.
• Candidates need 270 electoral votes to win.

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The Electoral College

• Criticisms of the Electoral College
• Critics say it is elitist to not let the people
  directly elect the president.
• Presidential campaigning is focused on the
  states with the most electors.
• System favors smaller states.

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Web Links

• The Center for Voting and Democracy a source of
  analysis and perspective on improving how
  elections are held in the United States
  www.fairvote.org.
• National Conference of State Legislatures Find
  out what different states are doing to ensure the
  vote www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/elect.h
  tm.

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What IfVoting By Mail Became Universal?

• Oregon is the only state that has eliminated
  precinct polling places, and everyone votes by
  mail.
• Proponents argue that it is
• the best way to increase voter participation
• more accurate
• cheaper

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What IfVoting By Mail Became Universal?

• Critics of voting by mail argue that
• it subverts the political process when voters
  cast ballots before debates and all information
  is available.
• it deprives voters of secrecy and increases
  possibility of fraud.
• represents abandonment of important civic duty of
  going to polls on election day.

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You Can Make a Difference Registering and Voting

• Nearly every state requires individuals to
  register to vote.
• Even though your vote is one of many, it adds to
  the constituency represented in the national,
  state, and local governing bodies.

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You Can Make a Difference Registering and Voting

• To register and cast a vote, you must
• Be a U.S. citizen
• 18 years old
• Resident of the state in which you intend to
  register

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You Can Make a Difference Registering and Voting

• For more information on voting registration,
  contact your
• county or state officials
• party headquarters
• labor union
• local chapter of the League of Women Voters at
  www.lwv.org.