Voting Process
How often to Americans vote for the president?
Every four years
What is the popular vote?
The total number of votes from all people who vote.
How many total electoral votes are there?
538
What color represents Republican states on the map?
Red
What is a swing state?
A state that could vote for either party in the election.
When is Election Day?
November 5
What is an electoral vote?
A point given to a candidate for winning a state.
How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win?
270
What color represents Democratic states on the map?
Blue
Why are swing states important?
They often decide the outcome because they can go either way.
What do people cast to vote for their president?
Ballots
How does a candidate usually win a state's electoral votes?
By winning the majority of votes in that state.
Why does the U.S. use an electoral college instead of just the popular vote?
To give each state a voice in the election, not just individual points.
What does it mean if a state is red?
The Republican candidate won that state.
Name a swing state mentioned in the slides.
Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada
What is the purpose of voting?
To let citizens choose their leader.
True or False: Winning the popular vote guarantees you will win the election.
False
What happens if no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes?
The House of Representatives decides the winner.
What does it mean if a state is blue?
The Democratic candidate won that state.
True or False: Swing states have fewer electoral votes than other states.
False
Describe what happens on Election Day.
Americans go to vote, casting ballots to choose their preffered presidential candidate.
What is the difference between the popular and electoral vote?
Popular vote is the total votes from everyone, and the electoral vote comes from each state's points, based on the popular vote.
How are the number of electoral votes per state determined?
By the state's population (each state gets votes based on the number of representatives, plus 2 senators)
What happens when a state has decided who won electoral vote?
The state either turns red or blue.
Explain why candidates focus heavily on swing states.
Because winning swing states can give a candidate enough electoral votes to win the presidency.