Voting and Elections Lecture Notes

Introduction

• This week's focus: Voting and Elections
• Reading Assignment: Chapter 7

The Voting Rights Act

• Year Passed: 1965
• Purpose: Protects voting rights for minorities and all citizens
  • Prohibits state laws denying voting rights based on race
• Impact:
  • Increased voter registration, especially among African-Americans
  • Example: post-act, African-American voter registration in Mississippi increased from 6% to over 60%
• Significance: Major role in expanding voting rights in the U.S during the 1960s

Residency Requirements

• Definition: Duration a citizen must live in a state before eligible to vote
• Typical Requirement: 30 days residency
• Process: Establish residency through actions like obtaining a driver's license, living in a state

Incumbency

• Definition: Current office holder running for re-election
• Advantages:
  • High re-election rate (up to 90%)
  • Fundraising capability, name recognition, media attention
• Reason for Advantage:
  • Financial resources, party support, media coverage

The Electoral College

• Definition: Constitutionally-created group for electing the president
• Electoral Votes Needed to Win: 270 of 538
• State Representation: Based on total number of Congressional representatives and Senators
• Population Changes: Affects number of electoral votes per state
  • Example: Florida gained votes, California and New York lost due to population shifts

Midterm Elections

• Definition: Congressional elections between presidential elections
• Purpose: Elect all House members and one-third of the Senate
• Political Trend: Often, the party not in the presidency gains control
  • Results in divided government

Recall Elections

• Definition: Voter-initiated removal of a government official
• Example: Governor Gray Davis of California replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Political Action Committees (PACs)

• Purpose: Raise and spend money to influence politics
• Contribution Limits:
  • Cannot directly contribute unlimited amounts to candidates
  • Can spend unlimited amounts on ads and events
• Individual Contribution Cap: $3,300 per candidate per election
• PAC Contribution Cap: $5,000 per candidate per election
• Contribution limits adjust with inflation

Conclusion

• Ensure to read Chapter 7
• End of the lesson