Voting and Elections Study Guide

Study Guide: Voting and Elections

I. The Purpose and Importance of Voting

•Definition of voting and its role in a democratic society.
•How voting represents citizen voices in government decisions.
•Why voting is essential for fair representation and government accountability.

II. History of Voting Rights in the United States

•Key Constitutional Amendments and legislation:
•15th Amendment (1870) – Prohibits voter discrimination based on race.
•19th Amendment (1920) – Grants women the right to vote.
•26th Amendment (1971) – Lowers the voting age to 18.
•Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Protects against racial discrimination in voting.
•Evolution of voting rights for different groups over time and its impact on American society.

III. The Election Process

•Overview of election types:
•Primary Elections: Used by parties to select candidates.
•General Elections: Determine who will hold office.
•Local, state, and federal elections, and their specific roles.
•Campaigns: How candidates promote their policies to gain support.
•Election Day: The final step where citizens cast their votes.

IV. Eligibility to Vote in the U.S.

•Basic requirements for voter eligibility:
•Must be a U.S. citizen.
•Must be 18 years or older.
•Must meet residency requirements in a specific state.
•Explanation of voter registration and its purpose.

V. The Electoral College

•Definition and purpose of the Electoral College.
•How it works:
•Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its population.
•Voters choose electors, who then vote for the president.
•Impact of the Electoral College on presidential elections and reasons for its establishment.

VI. Voter Participation and Turnout

•Importance of high voter turnout in representing a diverse population.
•Common reasons some citizens may not vote (e.g., lack of access, interest, or knowledge).
•The effects of low voter turnout on election results and representation.

VII. Comparing Voting Systems Around the World

•Overview of voting systems used in other democracies:
•Parliamentary systems, where citizens vote for representatives in a parliament.
•Ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates by preference.
•Comparison between U.S. elections and voting systems in other countries.

VIII. Key Vocabulary Terms

•Ballot – The method by which voters make their choices.
•Campaign – The effort by a candidate to win voter support.
•Candidate – A person running for a political office.
•Democracy – A government system where power is held by the people.
•Electoral College – The system for electing the U.S. president.
•Poll – A place where people cast their votes.
•Suffrage – The right to vote in elections.