GUIDE TO 2014 ELECTIONS & VOTING Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. Lynn University Florida
VOTING Voting is an essential part of a democratic government. It is every American citizen s fundamental right to voice their opinion and take part in how their government works. By voting, people help determine who will represent them and their country. Voting rights have come a long way. The first presidential election in 1789 only allowed white males to vote. After a long struggle for equal rights, blacks, women, and other Americans finally gained the right to vote and participate in government. Today, any U.S. citizen at least 18 years old can legally vote. However, in recent presidential elections only roughly half of the voting population actually voted. In truth, there have been many elections decided by just a few votes (as was the case with the 2000 presidential election in Florida). Each vote counts and can make a huge difference in who is elected to public office. Does one vote make a difference? 1820 One vote sent a message about democracy and the legacy of the Father of His Country. In 1820, President James Monroe ran for a second term. He was so popular that he won all but a single vote in the Electoral College. John Quincy Adams cast the one vote against Monroe. Adams stated that the reason he did this was "to make certain that only George Washington would ever have the honor of being elected President by a unanimous vote." 1845 One vote made Texas a state. When the Senate voted on this issue, they were tied. Then one Senator changed his vote, making Texas the 28 th state in the Union. 1846 One vote sent us to war with Mexico. President Polk asked for a Declaration of War but the Senate did not want to go to war. Eventually a declaration was approved by one vote. The United States won the war and added five states to the Republic (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Utah). 1
1867 One vote made Alaska a territory of the United States. 1868 One vote saved President Andrew Johnson from being removed from office in 1868. During his impeachment ordeal the Senate did not convict the President, allowing him to remain in office. 1876 One vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States. In the 1876 presidential election, the Democrat, Samuel Tilden, received a half million more popular votes than his Republican challenger, Hayes. The Electoral College, the group that officially elects the president, was not in agreement about who should be America's next leader and the votes and delegations of three southern states were being contested. A special commission was formed to make the final decision. The commission sided with Hayes and he won the electoral vote 185 to 184. 1948 The presidential race was so close that a single vote in certain precincts (precincts are voting areas in districts and states) would have changed the outcome of the election. How so? If President Harry S. Truman's opponent, Thomas E. Dewey, had received one vote more per precinct in Ohio and California, there would have been a tie and the House of Representatives would have decided the election. And because Dewey had more support in the House than Truman, Dewey would have won. 1960 The presidential race was so close that an average of one vote per precinct nationwide would have put Richard Nixon, rather than John F. Kennedy, in the White House. SREGISTERING TO VOTE How do I register to vote? To be a registered voter, you simply need to fill out a voter registration application, which can be found online or in paper at the Supervisor of Elections office for your county, or at various government offices. In Florida, voter registration closes 29 days before each election and remains closed until after that election. (You must register at least 29 days before you can vote in an election.) For the General Election, registration closes in early October. The General Election is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In Florida, the polls are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Election Day. There are also early voting periods prior to an election 2
and voters can request to vote with an absentee ballot that is filled out then mailed to the Supervisor of Elections office for your county. To register you must: Be a U.S. citizen Be a Florida resident Be 18 years old (you may pre-register if you are 16 or 17) Not claim the right to vote in any other county or state Not now be adjudicated to be mentally incapacitated Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored pursuant to law Show your Florida driver s license or Florida identification card number (if you do not have either of these, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number or mark a box indicated on the Voter Registration Application confirming you do not have a license or card) Once your Voter Registration Application has been processed, you will be mailed a Voter Registration Identification Card, which will have your precinct location listed. Florida law requires that you bring a photo ID with signature when you go to the polls to vote. Acceptable forms of ID are: Florida driver s license, Florida Identification card, U.S. Passport, military ID cards, student ID cards, etc. All voters must vote in the precinct where they live. To find your precinct location, simply contact the Supervisor of Elections office for your county or enter your address on the Supervisor s website. When you register to vote you have the option of listing your political party affiliation. Florida is a closed primary state, so only voters who are registered members of a particular political party can vote for their party s candidates in the Primary Election. As such, voters without party affiliation are ineligible to vote for candidates in political parties during the primary election. The Florida Constitution was recently amended (1998) to allow all voters regardless of their party affiliation to vote in the primary election if all the candidates for a particular office are in the same political party and the winner of the primary has no competition in the subsequent general election. How do I change my registration? Voters may change their party affiliation and apply for a lost or replacement Voter Registration Identification Card. If you move, you should also contact the Supervisor 3
of Elections for your county to change your address. This must happen within 29 days of the election. To change your name or party affiliation, you must: Complete the Voter Registration Application online (or print it out, fill it in using a black ballpoint pen, and mail it in) Next to BOX 1, check the information you wish to change (address change, name change, party affiliation change, card replacement, etc.) Print the application out and verify that it is correct (note that your Social Security number, Florida driver s license number, and other documents are kept confidential by the Supervisor of Elections office) Sign the application (your signature can t be a copy because you are swearing/affirming an oath) Mail the application with a first-class stamp to your county Supervisor of Elections What is an Absentee Ballot? If you will be out of the county, unable to go to the polls, or simply prefer the convenience of voting at home, you may request an Absentee Ballot to be mailed to you. Simply contact your county Supervisor of Elections by phone, mail, or in person. When requesting an Absentee Ballot, you must provide your name, address, date of birth, and signature. The ballot must be submitted by 7:00 pm on Election Day and is not accepted at any poll location. ELECTION 101 What is a Primary Election? A Primary Election is a preliminary election between two or more individuals in one political party. In Florida, the candidate with the highest number of votes is chosen to run in the General Election. 4
What is a General Election? A General Election can be a national, state, or county election, and it determines what individual will assume the public office. National Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. What is the difference between partisan and nonpartisan elections? A nonpartisan election is held the same day as the Primary Election. The candidates do not run as representatives of any political party. An example might be an election for judge or prosecutor. A partisan election means that candidates are affiliated with a political party. Elections and terms of office: I. Federal Government a. President and vice President Term is four years Term limit: two terms Election in November; term begins in January b. U.S. Senate members Term is six years Term limit: none Election in November; term begins in January c. U.S. House members Term is two years Term limit: none Election in November; term begins in January II. Florida State Government Executive officers include a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, and three cabinet members: Attorney General; Chief Financial Officer; and Commission of Agriculture a. Executive Officers Term is four years Term limit: two terms Election in November; term begins in January b. Florida State Senate Term is four years 5
Term limit: two terms Election in November; term begins next day c. Florida House of Representatives Term is two years Term limit: four terms Election in November; term begins next day III. Florida Judicial Branch a. Supreme Court Justices and Appellate Judges Term is six years Term limit: none Election on Primary Day; term begins in January b. Circuit Court and County Court Judges Term is six years Term limit: none Election on Primary Day; term begins in January IV. Florida County Government There are seven Constitutional Officers in Florida counties including: Clerk of Circuit Court; Public Defender; Property Appraiser; Sheriff; State Attorney; Supervisor of Elections; and Tax Collector a. County Commissioners Term is four Years Term limit: two terms Election in November; term begins two weeks later b. County Constitutional Officers Term is four years Term limit: none Nonpartisan elections on Primary Day Partisan elections in November; term begins in January 10 COMMON VOTING MYTHS 6
Myth 1: If your name doesn t appear on the voter roll at the polling site you can t vote. No, you may still vote but usually will need to do so with a provisional ballot or take an oath affirming you are a citizen and registered voter. Myth 2: If you recently moved and forgot to inform the Supervisor of Elections you can t vote. No, you can still vote but usually will need to do so with a provisional ballot or take an oath affirming you are a citizen and registered voter. Myth 3: Absentee ballots really don t count unless there is a tie. No, absentee ballots count like regular ballots in every state. Myth 4: If you were convicted of a felony you can t vote. Well, this one is complicated. Each state has its own laws about whether former felons can or can t vote. Some states disenfranchise former felons, while others allow prisoners to vote. If you have questions, check with state election officials or the Sentencing Project. In Florida, a convicted felon loses the right to vote, but an Executive Clemency Board can restore the right. Myth 5: You will be turned away from the polls if you wear a candidate s shirt. No, if you are a registered voter you can t be turned away. The exception, of course, is if you are breaking a law such as fighting with a poll worker or another voter. Some states prohibit campaign material within a certain distance of the voting site (roughly 100 feet on average), so you might be asked to cover up part of your shirt or hat. But, generally you can wear any campaign or political attire, buttons, and the like. Myth 6: If you have an unpaid parking ticket you can t vote. No, you can vote even if you have unpaid tickets, child support, and so on. Polling sites have no information about arrest records or unpaid tickets. Myth 7: If you were registered to vote by ACORN your registration is invalid. No, as long as the individual(s) registering you (from any organization) filed accurate information, you are registered. This is a rumor spread by certain groups. Myth 8: If your address on your driver s license doesn t match the address on your voter card you can t vote. No, it does not need to match. You may, however, need to use a provisional ballot. Myth 9: If you receive food stamps or welfare you can t vote. No, you can receive student loans, federal grants, or Medicaid and still vote. These are inaccurate rumors. Myth 10: I can t register to vote using my school address because I will be dropped from my parents health insurance coverage. No, you will not be dropped from coverage despite the persistent rumors spread by some groups. 7
Note: In every election, such issues arise. Also, some individuals, groups, and, yes, even the political parties try to suppress voting by promoting such misinformation. If you have questions or encounter a problem when voting, an Election Protection Hotline exists to help voters at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. VOTING HISTORY American voting timeline 1788 - The first presidential election was held. There was only one candidate: George Washington. He was reelected in 1792. 1870 - The 15 th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. African American men won the right to vote. 1886 - The first voting machine was invented by Thomas Edison. Congress complained that it worked too fast and refused to use it. A new machine was invented in 1892 and used in Lockport, New York. 1920 - American Women won the right to vote with the passage of the 19 th Amendment. 1948 - Even after the citizenship Act of 1924, which affirmed that Native Americans were U.S. citizens, they were not allowed to vote. The last Americans to remain disenfranchised, Native Americans were finally given the right to vote. 1964 - The 24 th Amendment outlaws poll taxes as a requirement for voting. 1965 - The Voting Right Act works to do away with literacy tests and other gimmicks that deny individuals (usually ethnic minorities) the right to vote and provides a role for the federal government in promoting voting rights. 8
1972 - The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the 26 th Amendment. Prior to this amendment, men were required to serve in the military and yet were not allowed to vote. 1984 The first woman nominated as vice president on a major party ticket was Democrat Geraldine Ferraro. 2000 - People were able to vote online for the first time in Arizona s Democratic primary. 2008 Barack Obama is elected and becomes the first African-American president in U.S. history Women and elections timeline 1848 - Women call for equal rights at the Seneca Falls Convention. 1872 - Victoria Woodhull is the first woman to run for president of the United States (on a third party Equal Rights - ticket). 1887 - Susanna Madora Salter of Argonia, Kansas, is elected the first woman mayor in the United States. 1894 - Estelle Reel Meyer is the first woman elected to a state office when she becomes Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wyoming. 1916 - Jeanette Rankin of Montana is the first woman representative elected to Congress. 1918 - Anne Martin of Montana is the first woman to run for U.S. Senate. 1920 - The 19th Amendment is ratified, giving women the right to vote in all national and state elections. 1922 - Rebecca Felton is appointed the first female U.S. Senator. 1924 - Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming and Miriam Ferguson of Texas are the first and second women governors in the United States. 1932 - Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas is the first woman to win an election to the U.S. Senate. 9
1933 - Frances Perkins becomes the first woman appointed to a Cabinet position. 1944 - Dorothy McElroy Vredenburgh of Alabama is the first woman appointed secretary of a national political party, the Democratic National Committee. 1960 - Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Landa becomes the world's first elected woman prime minister. 1968 - Shirley Chisholm of New York is the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives. 1972 Shirley Chisholm is the first African American woman to run for president. 1974 - Ella Grasso is elected Governor of Connecticut - the first woman elected a state governor in her own right. 1981 - Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court. 1984 - Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman vice presidential nominee on a major party ticket (Democrat) 1985 - Wilma Mankiller becomes the first female chief of a Native American tribe, the Cherokee. 1988 - Susan Estrich is the first woman to run a national presidential campaign. 1997 - Madeleine Albright is appointed as the first female Secretary of State. 2001 - Condoleeza Rice becomes the first female National Security Advisor. 2008 Sarah Palin becomes the first woman to be nominated for the vice presidency in the Republican Party VOTING AND ELECTION RESOURCES 10
Political parties Democratic National Committee (www.democrats.org) Republican National Committee (www.rnc.org) Green Party (www.greens.org & www.greenparty.org) Reform Party (www.reformparty.org & www.americanreform.org) Libertarian Party (www.lp.org) Government resources Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections (www.pbcelections.org) Broward County Supervisor of Elections (www.browardsoe.org) Martin County Supervisor of Elections (www.martinvotes.com) Non-partisan resources Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections (uselectionatlas.org) Find national results for presidential elections from 1789 through 2008. Election information, articles, and a description of the election process is also available. Civic Mind (www.civicmind.org) An online community for education about nonprofit civic organizations. Contains many useful resource links. Commission on Presidential Debates (www.debates.org) Find information about the history of debates, as well as information on DebateWatch events. 11
C-SPAN (www.c-span.org) Public affairs on the web and on cable. Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org) A comprehensive source for campaign donations, money in elections, and lobbying activities. Democracy in Action (www.democracyinaction.org) Offers tools for grassroots organizing for civic causes. E-The People (ethepeople.org) Provides civic organizations with online tools for organizing, keeping their members informed of political issues, and promoting voter awareness. Fact Check (www.factcheck.org) Fact checks major press releases, ads, speeches, and statements made by politicians. Federal Election Commission (www.fec.gov) This site has information on voter registration, absentee ballots, candidates, campaign donations, and more. Inaugural Addresses of Presidents (avalon.law.yale.edu) Read inaugural addresses from George Washington to George W. Bush and the text to the Executive Oath of Office. A project of the Avalon Institute at Yale University. League of Women Voters (www.lwv.org) The League advocates for voting rights, civic awareness, and campaign/election reforms. Living Room Candidate (www.livingroomcandidate.org) View a selection of campaign ads for each election year from 1952. Also includes an analysis of each major party s advertising campaign, and a map showing election results. Newseum (www.newseum.org) Interactive and informative website features presidential campaign photographs, newspaper front pages, archival television, and radio broadcast materials. Politics1 (www.politics1.org) A directory of candidates, parties, elections, and issues. 12
PolitiFact (www.politifact.com) This Pulitzer Prize-winning group of journalists fact checks political ads and positions, including those of officials in Florida. Project Vote Smart (www.vote-smart.org) Contains a comprehensive database of political candidates and elected officials. Also includes links to other websites with information on government and politics. 13