The Administration of
Elections

Extent of Federal control


Elections need to be free, honest, and
accurate
Most election law in the U.S. is State
Law
The Administration of
Elections

Congress allowed to
set the date for
congressional
elections


Tuesday following
the 1st Monday of
November
Prevents Election
Day from falling on a
Sunday
Early Voting

Absentee voting

voting by those
unable to get their
regular polling places
on election day



cover those to ill or
disabled
cover those who
expect to be away
those serving in the
armed forces
Ballot

The device by which
a voter registers a
choice in an election
Types of Ballots

The Australian Ballot



List names of all
candidates
Given to each voter
Marked in secrecy
Types of Ballots

The Office-Group Ballot

Candidates group together by office
Types of Ballots

The Party-Column Ballot

List candidates under the party’s names
Types of Ballots

Sample Ballots

Help voters prepare
for election
Types of Ballots

Bedsheet Ballots


Typical American
Ballot
Very lengthy and
includes all offices
and all candidates
Voting Machines and
Innovation
Electronic Vote
Counting


Electrical Data
Processing

Computer counted
ballots
Voting Machines and
Innovation

Vote-by-Mail
Elections



Voting done through
mail
Confined to local
elections
Threatens principle
secrecy
Voting Machines and
Innovation

Online Voting



E-voting, casting
ballots on internet
Electronic
infrastructure is not
secure
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