9.1 Introduction to Elections

Introduction
to Elections

Unit 9-1

Lesson Overview

Students Will Be Able To:

oIdentify the purposes of voting and reasons why people vote.

oCompare primary and general elections.

Vocabulary:

oElectorate, General Elections, Political Spectrum, Primary Elecetion, Voter Turnout

Essential Question- What is the purpose of voting, and how
does the process of voting support democracy?

What is an Election? Why do we vote?

•We also call voting "Suffrage" and "Franchise"

•The main purpose of the act of voting is to enable citizens to have
a say in the decision-making process

•Citizens are participating in "Democracy"

•The Electorate- consists of all individuals who are eligible to vote
in an election.

Imagine that you are a
politician. What would
you want to do for the
"Electorate"?

Match

Match the following amendments to the voting rights they provided.

• 15th Amendment

• 19th Amendment

• 26th Amendment

Gave African American Males Right to Vote

Gave Women the Right to Vote

Gave Citizens 18 and Older Right to Vote

• Gave African American Males Right to Vote

• Gave Women the Right to Vote

• Gave Citizens 18 and Older Right to Vote

Primary and General Elections

•Here in the United States, we have two main types of elections that citizens participate in.

oPrimary Elections- a process of narrowing down a wide field (large group) of candidates, it involves
party members and registered voters all from the same party

To be in this election you will need to get a Nominating Petition- formal written application signed by a certain
number of voters

oGeneral Elections- candidates from different parties compete to be elected to office, such as president,
governor, or a member of Congress

Find Your Representative | house.gov

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The Political Spectrum

•The Political Spectrum- is a way to categorize and
understand different political beliefs and positions.

•It is important to remember that these
are general guidelines and that it does not
mean people can't change positions and beliefs

•Knowing where you or the candidate you like falls
on the spectrum is an important part of being an
informed citizen

Requirements to Vote in the United States

•Requirements to vote in the United States are governed
(run) by state laws but there are some common elements-

oBe a U.S. Citizen

oMeet the minimum age requirement

oRegister to vote

oMeet the residency requirements

Think about what
we have learned in
previous units
about the fight to
vote and what
obstacles had to be
overcome.

Voter Turnout

•Voter Turnout- the percentage of eligible individuals who
cast their votes

•Having a good (high) voter turnout is a good thing for
democracy for several reasons-

o It allows for the government to reflect the society

o When more people participate it is a more accurate
representation of perspectives

o Promotes civic engagement and participation

o Empowers people to have a voice in decision-making and
holds elected officials accountable

•Having a low turnout can be bad because-

o Underrepresentation of groups and communities

o Skewed policy outcomes

What can we learn from
this chart and the voter
turnout?

Why People Do Not Vote

•Lack of Interest

oPeople feel disconnected from the political process

oSome feel that their vote will not make a significant difference

•Barriers to Voting

oStrict Voter ID laws

oLimited access to polling places

oDifficulty registering to vote

•Disillusionment Leads to Disengagement

oPeople may feel no connection (disengagement) to a candidate
or party

oSocioeconomic reasons might make voting a low priority to
some people

oPeople may not vote if they believe their candidate has no
chance to win

•Voter Suppression

oMisinformation and distrust can lead to not voting

oSome people call into question the integrity or fairness of
elections

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Multiple Select

Which of the following are reasons that people choose not to vote?

• They may feel that their vote does not make a difference

• They may face confusion over voter ID laws or difficulties registering to vote

• They may have a difficult time making it to a polling place due to work schedules or lack of transportation

• They may question the integrity or fairness of the election process

How to Register to Vote

•The process can vary from state to state but
generally it goes like this-

oCheck your eligibility

oObtain a voter registration form

oComplete the form

oChose a registration method

oSubmit your registration

Register to Vote in PA

Voter Registration Application VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION

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Drag and Drop

How old do citizens have to be to vote​ ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

18 years old

16 years old

21 years old

Essential Question- What is the purpose of voting, and how
does the process of voting support democracy?

 Voting is a means by which citizens formally decide on the direction that
their government takes.

 Primary elections are held in the spring to decide party nominees for
the general election in November.

 How to complete your own voter registration form.

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