Voter’s
Handbook
How voting works
Can anybody vote
in America?
• No, must meet qualifications
Voting Qualifications
• U.S. Citizen
• 18 yrs or older
Who sets the
“qualifications” to vote?
• Originally…
• Constitution gave power to states
• Since Civil War…
• Amendments, laws, court decisions give
details
• Why???
Does your vote really
count?
•Yes!!! Every vote counts
•Some elections lost by 1
vote
What is the first step to
voting?
• But, other countries don’t have to, why
do we?
• To prevent voting fraud
• “Vote Early and Often”
How can I register to
vote?
• Different for each state
• National Voter Registration Act (1995)
• States must make registration forms
available at state offices
• Motor vehicle dept.
• Welfare offices
Voting Procedures
• You vote at a polling place, in
your home precinct
• Sign-In
• Check signature
• Enter voting booth
Types of Ballots
Office-group ballot
President
 John McCain
Republican Party
Party-column ballot
 Republican Party
John McCain (President)
Sarah Palin (Vice-President)
 Barack Obama
Democratic Party
 Ralph Nader
Green Party
Ticket-splitting???
 Democratic Party
Barack Obama (President)
Joe Biden (Vice-President)
Special Circumstances
• Help ensure all Americans can vote
• Absentee Ballot- if can’t make election
you can sign up to vote before, send
by mail
• Out of town
• Hospitalized
• Physical Disability
• Jail (misdemeanor)
Voting
• http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/r
esults/president/
• Finish the questions on pg. 491
• Start questions on pg. 497
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