CLR - Voting and National Elections Lesson
Voting and National Elections
It is time to get ready for the general election once each party selects their candidates for office. At this point, the Democratic and Republican nominees run against one another. Sometimes, there is a third candidate from a minor party, such as the Independent Party, that may run for office. Whichever candidate wins the majority of the votes at the election, wins the government office. Candidates generally have a strategy for winning the election and try to determine the following:
- Strategies for winning the election
- Should I focus on an issue of relevance or importance?
- Should I spend a significant amount of money on the media?
- How much money should I raise during the election?
- Should I remain low-key and not de-moralize or criticize the other candidate?
The Electoral College
Electing a President to office is quite different. The U.S. President is elected through the Electoral College. The President and Vice President are not directly elected by the voters. They are elected by electors, or representatives who are chosen by popular vote in a state. The number of electors in each state is based on the state's population. The presidential candidate must receive 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. As a result, presidential candidates spend a great amount of time campaigning in states with the highest electoral votes.
Number of electors per state during the 2012 presidential election between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Who is not permitted to vote?
- Citizens that are felons
- Citizens that are mentally impaired
Convicted felons have the right to vote in many states after serving their time. In other states, some must wait a period of time or apply to have their voting rights restored.
Can citizens be absent to vote?
Yes, an absentee ballot allows a citizen to vote without having to go to their precinct on the day of the election. Citizens can use an absentee ballot if they are out-of-town, hospitalized, physically disabled, observing religious holidays, or in jail awaiting a trial. A citizen must complete the absentee ballot and return it to their state election office before the election.
Who can vote?
Voting rights have been expanded greatly since our Constitution was written.
- In 1870, African-Americans were given the right to vote, which is outlined in the 15th Amendment.
In the past, states have tried to keep African Americans from voting even after the 15th Amendment was passed. In some states, a literacy test was required that was too difficult for anyone to pass. Some states levied a poll tax. If you were unable to pass the test and pay the tax, you were not allowed to vote.
- In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote (suffrage).
- In 1965, the Voting Rights Act made poll taxes and literacy tests unconstitutional and illegal.
- The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 from 21.
Qualifications to Vote
• A citizen must be at least 18 years old.
• A person must be a citizen of the United States.
• A citizen must be a resident of the state and have lived in a state for a certain amount of time (the amount of time varies by state).
• A citizen must be registered to vote in the state in which they live.
What Influences Voters?
- A citizen's age influences the types of issues that are relevant and important to the voter.
- A citizen's religious affiliation and beliefs
- A citizen's ethnicity
- A citizen's affiliation with or loyalty to a political party, Democratic or Republican
- A citizen's political socialization, which are the beliefs based on relatives, friends, and education level
- A citizen's place of origin or where the voter lives
Outside factors that Influence Voter Decisions?
A picture of a candidate may influence perception. The mass media can depict a person in different contexts and has the greatest impact on public opinion. The mass media includes television, the internet, newspapers, magazines, etc. The mass media is also an important tool for interest groups and PACs to use to advance the issues they want the government to address. Mass media is the way that most average citizens learn about issues.
Note: PACs are Political Action Committees that raise money to support or campaign against political parties. They can be formed by various groups of people including: Labor unions, corporations, and trade unions. Some PACs are formed by politicians who are seeking a higher office. At the federal level, a PAC receives or spends more than one thousand dollars influencing an election. At the state level, a PAC organizes according to states laws.
Propaganda is a powerful force that directly impacts voters' decisions. Political parties, interest groups, and businesses try to persuade citizens that their candidate is the best for the job. Propaganda involves using ideas, images, stories, information, or rumors to influence public opinion.
An interest group is a group of people who organize for a cause or common goal and also try to influence government decisions. Interest groups support candidates of the major political parties that agree with their ideologies. Interest groups do several things to express their policy goals to politicians both during elections and between elections. However, interest groups are sometimes considered "factions", which has a negative context. This is because interest groups act in a way that is not necessarily beneficial to the public as a whole. A bad reputation is given to interest groups as a result.
Interest Groups
Interest groups support many different groups including: Business, agriculture, the elderly, and pro-life and pro-choice groups. Interest groups have become powerful in the United States and are sometimes referred to as the "fourth" branch of our government.
What do Interest Groups Do?
- They lobby and express their wants and needs to politicians in Congress.
- They educate and provide information to politicians about their beliefs on a particular issue or bill. They can directly influence how politicians vote.
- They write bills and deliver them directly to politicians in hopes that politicians will support or sponsor the bill in Congress.
- They advocate by using the media to educate and inform the public on a politician's or candidate's view on an issue.
- They draft letters to encourage their members to write politicians about issues and their views.
What is a Political Action Group?
A Political Action Committee is organized to help raise money for parties and candidates. P.A.C.s work together to finance candidates that they want to win. In return, they often expect certain actions and favors from candidates. Business corporations often have P.A.C.s that work to get candidates elected. As a result, they expect the elected candidates to be careful about passing legislation that might hurt their business. The Federal Election Commission regulates P.A.C.s and makes sure that their activities are legal.
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