Chapter 10 Section 3:
The Right to Vote
I. Becoming a Voter
Everyone who is 18 or older is eligible to
vote in national, state and local elections
 Most important right you have
 Each state decides on the exact
qualifications.

You register with your: Name, Address,
Date of Birth and Information showing
that you are eligible.
 No one can vote more than once.
 When you register you can choose to
register as the member of a particular
political party.
 You can also register to be Independent,
you choose not to belong to any party.

II. Elections

Two types of elections:
 1. Primary Election: takes place first,
narrows the field of candidates to one that
will represent the party.

2012 Republican Primary Results

2012 Democratic Primary Results??
2. General Election: Voters choose their leaders
from the candidates offered by the political
parties.
A. Primary Elections
Two types of primary elections:
 1. Closed: only voters who are
registered in a particular party can vote
to choose the party’s candidate.
 2. Open: Voters may vote for the
candidate of either major party, whether
or not the voter belongs to that party.

Most states have a “winner take all
system” where the person who recieves
the most votes wins.
 Some states have plurality. This means
in order to win you must achieve a
majority of the votes.

B. Independent Candidates
One who does not belong to a political
party
 Can have their name on the ballot if
enough people sign a petition.
 Usually only receive grassroots, or local,
support.
 Normally not elected

C. General Elections
Congress set the date for general
elections as the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November.
 Congressional elections take place
every two years, presidential every four.

III. Voting

A. Early Voting
 Early part of the 1800’s voting was done by
voice, so your vote was public record
 In 1888 the US adopted the secret ballot
which is done by paper and makes elections
more honest and fair.

B. Voting Today
 Alternatives to paper vote now include
mechanical level machines, punch cards,
scan sheets, computer.
 Polling places are open from early in the
morning to around 8 at night.
 Voters can vote straight ticket: voting for all
the candidates of a certain party.
 They can also vote split ticket: voting for
candidates of both parties.