Election Basics
What is an election?
An election is an event where citizens vote for who they want for positions in political offices
How many candidates are running for Manchester mayor?
2 - Jay Ruais and Jessica Spillers
What day of the week has Election Day always been on since 1845?
"Tuesday may seem like a weird day for Election Day. Congress chose this day because in 1845, many people had to travel quite a ways to vote. Since many families did not travel on Sundays, voting on Tuesday gave them all of Monday to travel if necessary" (Country Home Learning Center).
What is a candidate?
A candidate is someone who is "is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
How many candidates in total are running for Manchester positions? Closest guess gets the points!
19 candidates
Did people always vote with paper ballots?
No. In early U.S. history, "votes were often counted by raising hands or speaking out loud".
How old do you need to be to vote?
18 years old
Cities and towns are divided into wards for elections, which are based on where you live in your town/city. How many wards are in Manchester? Closest guess wins the points!
12 wards
Can you vote in outer space?
Yes you can! Country Home Learning Center states that "[i]n 1997, Texas passed a law that allowed American astronauts in space to electronically cast their ballots in federal elections".
Are elections just for choosing presidents and mayors?
Nope! There are plenty of positions citizens can vote for, including: Committees, school committees, clerks, selectmen, aldermen, and more
When you turn 18, where do you go to register to vote?
City Hall
When did the first female candidate run for president in the U.S.? Closest guess gets the points!
Victoria Woodhull ran in 1872
What kinds of places can citizens vote for? Guess at least two to get the points!
Public buildings, K-12 schools, fire stations, churches, nursing homes, and more. You can also vote at home by using mail-in ballots
If you lived at or around the Boys and Girls Club, you'd be in Ward 4. Which school would you vote at?
McDonough School
When was Election Day established?
1845