Elections
When is our next election?
Right now! Early voting in Texas went from October 21-November 1 and Election Day is November 5
T/F - You can lose the an election and still be president
True! Because of the electoral college system, a candidate can lose the popular vote but still win the presidency. This happened to John Quincy Adams in the election of 1824
Do you register to vote with the federal, state, or local government?
Local, you register to vote with the county that you live in
T/F - Elections are always in November
False! General elections are on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, but other elections can be held at different times
T/F - You can only vote if you live in the 50 states or DC
True! US citizens in territories like Puerto Rico and Guam cannot vote in federal elections
T/F - You can register to vote on election day in Texas
False! The window to register to vote closes about a month before election day. It was on October 8th this year. Technically, you can register past this, but cannot vote in the upcoming election. 23 states plus DC have same say registration
How often are elections held?
Most elections are held every even numbered year (every other year). What positions are on the ballot is determined by the term length (eg 4 yrs for president, 6 yrs for senator, etc.)
T/F - You can directly vote for laws
True! This is called a referendum. Referendums have a law or proposal on the ballot and are passed by popular vote
Name two qualifications for voting that have changed over time
1. 15th Amendment - Black men can vote in all 50 states (Freedmen were allowed to vote in some states)
2. 19th Amendment - women can vote in all 50 states (women voted in some colonies and states before 1920)
3. 26th Amendment - voting age lowered from 21 to 18
4. Indian Citizenship Act - voting rights extended to Native Americans
5. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses introduced then prohibited
And many more