Chapter #17 Elections and VotingSection #1 Election Campaign

Electing the President

Election days are held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Elections Every 4 years a president is elected 1/3 rd of Senate is re-elected every two

years All representatives are elected every

two years

Electoral votes and the states- to be elected the president must win 270 out of 538 electoral votes

The electoral vote is equal to the number of reps and senators from all states added together plus three from the District of Columbia.

Electoral CollegeThe number of electoral colleges

from Michigan is the number of Senators and Representatives added together.

To win a Presidency a candidate must pay extra attention to states such as TX, CA, NY, FL who have the most electoral votes

Campaign Strategy and Organization

They plan how to capture states with slogans, ads, and money

A Campaign manager is responsible for strategy and planning

Using Television- most important campaign tool (political commercials)- television debates can also have a large impact on voters

Using the Internet

Candidates use the internet for contributions, support, and to get their name out there

Social media is the key to fundraising and getting votes

Financing Campaigns2008 election cost $4 billion- need

money for travel, staff, TV Ads, office space, and salaries

Regulating Campaign Finance

The (FECA) Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 provided regulations that apply to campaign financing- this requires public disclosure of candidates spending and how much and who are contributing

1974- The FEC was created (Federal Election Committee) to administer election laws- they keep records on any contributions of $100 or more

Public Funding

1974 Campaign Law- established public funding for presidential Campaigns

Private Funding- in every election most money comes from private sources (political Parties, corporations, interest groups, PAC’s)

Bi Partisan Campaign Act (BRCA)-target issue advertising and soft money donations political parties

 Soft Money- is given directly to the

party and not the candidate for general purposes

Campaign Law and InternetThe FEC has issues ruling on how

election laws apply to the Internet

Chapter #17Section #2Expanding the Voting RightsEarly Voting Limitations

Before the American Revolution only 5-6 % of the population could vote (no blacks, women, white men if they didn’t own property.

Voting was left up to the rich

Early 1800s the government got rid of property, poverty, wealth, and religious requirements

Late 1800s- all white males could vote

Women Suffrage (vote)- the 19th Amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote

  African – American Suffrage- the 15th

amendment gave black men the right to vote (based on race/ color)

Grandfather Clause

Despite the 15th Amendment, Southerners put up several roadblocks to stop African- Americans from voting

African- Americans had to take a literacy test and pay a poll tax- kept many from voting

1915- this was ruled unconstitutional

Literacy Test- used to keep African Americans from voting- they were hard- had to explain the constitution- the voting rights act of 1965 and 1970 outlawed the literacy tests.

Poll Tax- African Americans had to pay money ($1-2) to vote. The 24th amendment outlawed Poll Tax

The Voting Rights Act of 1965- helped to register voters because the federal government took over the election process- they also appointed poll watchers to make sure the elections were fair.

- Helped to double the number of African Americans voters’ registration.

-Led to the election of many African American Mayors

26th Amendment- lowered the voting age to 18 year old- because many were fighting in the war so it was only fair that they be able to vote

Chapter #17 Section #3 Influences on Voters

5 Factors that influence voting choice

First, Personal background- UpbringingFamilyAge IncomeOccupation

Example if you are 23 you might be against paying social security but if you are 68 then you would be all for it.

Other background issues- education and religion

Cross-pressured voters- voters face conflicts and feel pressure from different elements of their identity to vote in a certain way.

Second, Loyal to Political Parties- most people are Democrats or Republicans- sometimes people think that their parties are more important than the issues or candidates

Straight party ticket- always choose the candidate of your party

Third, Issues in Election Campaigns- many voters are not well informed about all of today’s issues but are better informed than they used to be because of TV, internet, more education, and more impact on our lives.

Fourth, The Candidates Image- Most Americans want a President that is a strong and trustworthy leader but image and qualifications matter.

 Fifth, Propaganda- involves using

ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion- using information to support an objective

Profiles of Regular voters- education, age, income are most important factors

Profile of non- voters- they don’t care or don’t believe that they meet the requirements for voting (US citizenship, registration, and residency)

 Voter Participation 62% 1950 50% 2000