US Elections

US Elections

Follow along to show your knowledge of US elections!

Political Parties

• Political parties are groups of people who share the same ideas about different issues.

• Parties support different candidates, people who run for office in local, state, and national elections.

Open Ended

What is one thing you know about political parties in the United States?

Multiple Select

Which of these are official political parties in the U.S.?

• Conservative

• Democratic

• Independent

• Liberal

• Republican

The Parties in the U.S.

• On maps and visuals, the Democratic Party is generally shown as blue. The Republican Party is shown as Red.

• You might hear states called "Red States," "Blue States," or "Swing States."

• In a swing state, the two major parties have more-or-less the same level of support, and who the state votes for changes from election to election.

Multiple Choice

What date is Election Day 2020?

• October 30th

• November 3rd

• November 30th

• December 3rd

Election Laws

• The U.S. Constitution (the document where our original laws are written down) says that Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

• The President is elected every 4 years.

• Senators are elected every 6 years, with a third of the Senate running every two years (1/3rd in 2020, 1/3rd in 2022, 1/3rd in 2024).

• Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years.

Local Elections

• Local Elections (elections in a specific city, town, or county) happen every year!

• In these elections, members of the city/town/county vote on local laws, taxes, and politicians.

• Local politicians include the mayor, the city council, and the school board.

Multiple Choice

How often can registered voters vote in an election?

• Every year

• Every 2 years

• Every 4 years

• Every 6 years

Multiple Choice

How often is there a Presidential Election in the United States?

• Every year

• Every 2 years

• Every 4 years

• Every 6 years

Who can vote?

• U.S. citizens over 18 years old

• Registered to vote

• Depends on state: people without felony convictions

Poll

How fair do you think the Election system in the U.S. is?

• 0% fair (not fair at all)

• 25% fair

• 50% fair

• 75% fair

• 100% fair (totally fair)

Open Ended

What is one thing everyone should know about voting, elections, and the political system in the U.S.?