Voting and Elections

Warm Up

Write about TWO Supreme Court cases that we learned about, and explain their significance.

You have a quiz today!

Voting.

Census Voting reccords

Why do people vote?

Why don’t people vote?

Fun Fact

WHY TUESDAY? WHY NOVEMBER?

In the 18th century, when America first asked citizens to cast their ballots, its largely rural population needed a couple of days in the saddle to reach a polling place. As Sunday was mainly for church, Monday would not allow enough time to ride to the poll station, so Tuesday became the natural choice for voting. As for November? It made perfect sense for an agrarian society whose members were enjoying the lull between harvest and heavy snowfall

Requirements to Vote in NC

Must be a U.S. citizen.

Must be a resident of North Carolina.

Prior to voting, must be a resident of the county for at least 30 days prior to election day.

Must be at least 18 years old or will be 18 by the date of the next general election.

Must give up any previous registration in another county or state.

If previously convicted of a felony, the person’s citizenship rights must be restored (must not be serving an active sentence, including probation or parole).

NC Voting StatisticsRegistered Voters

Democrat 2,630,120

Libertarian 25,786

Republican 1,933,023

Unaffiliated 1,734,366

Total Registered Voters 6,323,295

Voter Turnout

2014 General Election

2,939,767 44.35% of registered voters

http://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/voter-turnout

Voting VocabElectorate- everyone that is eligible to vote.

ballot- list of candidates from which you chose to vote for.

States offer three ways for voters to cast a ballot before Election Day:

1.   Early Voting:  any qualified voter may cast a ballot in person during a designated period prior to Election Day. 

•No excuse or justification is required. •In 32 states and the District of Columbia

2.   Absentee Voting:  All states will mail an absentee ballot to certain voters. The voter may return the ballot by mail or in person.

3.   Mail Voting:  A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary), and the state does not use traditional poll sites that offer in-person voting on Election Day. Two states use mail voting.

Straight ticket- voting for all candidates in one party

NC you can vote straight ticket for all positions except for President & VP

3% of NC voters were confused and did not vote for the president because they chose straight ticket and didn’t go back and select the president.

Split ticket- voting for candidates in more than one party.

After you vote…Exit poll- media & party workers ask voters how they voted as they leave the voting center in order to predict the results of the election before all of the votes have been counted.

Each polling center takes the results of the election, also called the return, to the election board.

The local election board then sends the results to the state canvassing authority, who is responsible for making sure the votes were counted correctly and totally the votes for the state.

They declare the winners of the elections.

Ways Citizens Directly Influence State & Local Government

Initiative- if a petition is signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters, they can force a public vote on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment or ordinance.

D.C. Initiative 71

Warm Up

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Why did the Continental Congress choose a confederation?

Referendum- citizens are able to accept or reject proposed state or local laws proposed by their legislatures.

Initiatives & referendums are put on the ballot at the next election. • N.C. does not permit state

initiatives. • Local initiatives and referendums

have been permitted in most cities.

November 2014 NC Referendum:

[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment providing that a person accused of any criminal offense for which the State is not seeking a sentence of death in superior court may, in writing or on the record in court and with the consent of the trial judge, waive the person's right to a trial by jury.

Special ElectionsTwo-round system- used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate.

If a candidate receives less than the established number of votes then a RUNOFF ELECTION is required.

NC 40%

Ex) of plurality

Runoff election: The 2 candidates receiving the most votes. Typical in primary elections.

NC has this. Cost $6 million dollars for the most recent runoff election.

Only a few voters even showed up.

Imagine an election to choose which food to eat for dessert. There are 25 people having dessert and four candidates: Ice Cream, Apple Pie, Fruit and Celery. Runoff voting is used to find the winner.

Round 1: In the first round of voting each diner votes for the one candidate they most prefer. The results are as follows:

Ice Cream: 10 votes

Apple Pie: 6 votes

Fruit: 8 votes

Celery: 1 vote

Round 2: No candidate has an absolute majority of votes (in this election that would be 13) so the two candidates with the most votes, Ice Cream and Fruit, proceed to a second round, while Apple Pie and Celery are eliminated. Because their favorite candidates have been eliminated Apple Pie and Celery supporters must now vote for one of the two remaining candidates. The sole Celery supporter is health conscious, so now gives his vote to Fruit. However Apple Pie supporters are split: 3 prefer Ice Cream and 3 vote for Fruit. Of those who supported Ice Cream and Fruit in the first round no-one decides to change their vote. The results of the second round are therefore:

Ice Cream: 13

Fruit: 12

Result: Ice Cream now has an absolute majority so is declared the winner.

Possible Solution?

Instant runoff- instead of voting for just one candidate you would rank the candidates instead which would prevent the need for a second runoff election.

Been a bad, bad, politician?

Recall- voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended. Recalls, which are initiated when sufficient voters sign a petition.

Don’t worry NC politicians, there is no recall system in NC.

Electoral College Review

538 electors= reflects the 100 senators, 435 HOR’s, & D.C.’s guaranteed 3.

Electors elected by their respective parties at their state conventions. Typically dedicated senior members of their party.

Basically when you cast your ballot for president & VP you are casting your ballot for the party and therefore the electors.

So NC had 15 electoral votes. 15 Republican Electors, 15 Democratic Electors, 15 Libertarian Electors that were prepared to cast their vote after the result of the popular vote. NC sent their 15 Republican Electors.

How the Electors VoteAfter the popular vote has been totaled

Electors chosen on Election Day meet in their respective state capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, at which time they cast their electoral votes on separate ballots for President and Vice President.

Winner-Take-All system- where all electors go with the candidate who wins the popular vote regardless of how close the vote is. (48 states)

Congressional district method- Maine and Nebraska. State is divided into congressional districts and the electors vote according to the results of their district.

Faithless electors- electors that vote against the popular vote.

Not against the constitution to vote against the recipient of popular vote

NC fines faithless electors $10,000

Population per Electoral Vote