American Elections

[SOOOSKA]

Happy Election Day to all my American Friends.

I need someone to explain to me what you are actually voting fortoday. I see all the adds on TV. Some people arerunning for Congress, Senators etc etc. What do eachdo?

They say that if the Democrats win then the Republicans are screwed forthe next two years, (I heard this on CNN last night)this iswhen you vote for yourPresident Correct?

Here in Canada it is so different. When we vote for our PrimeMinister (equal to your President) we actually vote for our Member ofParliament for each riding. To become a majoritygovernment that party needs to have a certain number of seats.

When you vote for you president do you actually vote for him? (in other words is his name actually on the ballot.)

Hopefully all my questions make sense.

Soooska:Canada::apollo:

 

[Haley]

Hi Susan!

When we vote for the President, his name is actually on the ballot.This happens every 4 years. This year (which is two years into Bush'sterm) we're voting on congress members and senators.

Okay, Im a political science major and it even gets confusing to me, sobear with me. Congress members (who serve in the house ofrepresentatives/congress) are up for election every two years. Senatorshave a 6 year term, but the elections stagger so that 1/3 of the Senateis up for election every two years.

The house of reps and the Senate both make up the legislative branch.each state gets a certain number of reps based on population, whereasin the senate each state gets 2 members regardless of population. Thiswas done to make it fair to big states (who are better represented inthe house of reps) and the smaller states (who have equal footing inthe senate).

We also vote for governors today.If I remember right,governors (who serve also 4 years) are all elected in the middle of thepresidents term (like this year). Im not 100% sure about that, but Iknow in MIchigan we're electing the governor.

We also have lots of issues (called proposals) that we vote on. Inmichigan right now, theres things like should we allow affirmativeaction in hiring and schools, should we allow hunters to shoot mourningdoves etc.

Is that a long explanation or what?!

Oh, and the reason CNN said the republicans would be upset thiselection year is that for the past 6 years, they have had a majority inthe house, senate, and the president, making it easier for them to getthings done....

 

[maherwoman]

Wow, Haley...that actually cleared up quite a lot for me!

Nice to know we have someone around to explain things like that!

 

[Haley]

Im still unsure whether or not all governors are elected in the same year...

But I did just read that in Vermont and New Hampshire the governor only runs for a term of 2 (not 4) years..wonder why??

 

[SOOOSKA]

Thanks Haley, it makes more sense now. Oh to be young and smart.

Susan:apollo:

 

[pamnock]

Here's a site that explains how our electoralcollage works for the presidential elections. The presidentsnames are on our ballots, however, we are not directly casting thefinal votes for electing the president.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College

Our federal congress is divided into the Senate and the House ofRepresentatives, so we vote for representatives from our state torepresent us in the federal government. (Which Haley explained in moredetail)

We also vote for representatives for our state government and Governor/Lieutenant Governor.



My 7 year old enjoyed going with me to vote today. I made hima ballot last week and we discussed thecandidates so he couldvote for fun. He's looking forward to seeing whowins. He also watched as I voted so he could experience the"real" thing - and I let him push the "confirm" button forme. He's put a lot of thought into our state issue as towhether over $20 million should be set aside for PA veterans.Kids can get involved in the voting process and learn about the issuesat a very young age. It really helps them to appreciate thevoting process.



Pam

 

[m.e.]

There are 36states electing governers today; Maine is one of them. PresidentsReagan, Clinton, and Bush Jr. were all elected governers during midtermelections, so it will be interesting to see who wins the gubernatorialraces this year.

And of course, I did my civic duty and voted today

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

Today's elections brought a mass amount of people toOhio polls!

We were electing a new governor along with a large amount of issues. Iftoday's ballot results pass then Ohio will be a smoke-free state alongwith a minimum wage of $6.85 instead of $5.15. It was also the firsttime Ohio residents were required to show an ID to vote.

 

[missyscove]

We voted for governor today too.Apparently they expect Schwarzenegger (sp?) to win again forgovernor. Obviously I'm not old enough, but I will eb oldenough to vote for president in 2008, just after I graduate from highschool. I'm glad the election will be over with, so all theelection telemarketers will stop calling.

 

[SOOOSKA]

What's the voting age in the USA?

Susan

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

SOOOSKA wrote:

What's the voting age in the USA?

Susan

18 years of age

 

[cheryl]

pamnock wrote:

He also watched as I voted so he could experiencethe "real" thing - and I let him push the "confirm" button forme.

I'm sorry but i'm just trying to work something out,do you vote electronically over there? just wondering

we have these two papers with all the names and we have to number allthe boxes



Pam i agree,i think it is good for kids to learn these things at an early age

every time i go to vote,my son Jeremy who is nearly 11 always comeswith me and he watches what i'm doing,and even asks questions,my 16year old Anthony has better things to do though,he says that he willhave plenty of time when he turns 18



cheryl

 

[pamnock]

cheryl13 wrote:

pamnock wrote:

Healso watched as I voted so he could experience the "real" thing - and Ilet him push the "confirm" button for me.

I'm sorry but i'm just trying to work something out,do you vote electronically over there? just wondering

we have these two papers with all the names and we have to number allthe boxes



cheryl

Yes - many vote electronically here in the US. Last year, our local machines were not working - big mess :X



Pam

 

[cheryl]

pamnock wrote:

cheryl13 wrote:

pamnock wrote:

Healso watched as I voted so he could experience the "real" thing - and Ilet him push the "confirm" button for me.

I'm sorry but i'm just trying to work something out,do you vote electronically over there? just wondering

we have these two papers with all the names and we have to number allthe boxes



cheryl

Yes - many vote electronically here in the US. Last year, our local machines were not working - big mess :X



Pam

That is so interesting thanks Pam,yes i can just imagine what a mess itmust have been,especially when they are relying on the machines



cheryl

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

Here's what the voting machines look like in Ohio.
There are a few different models that are used.

 

[Starlight Rabbitry]

Here in CT, we voted for our Governor.It will be the same one that we've had for the last 2 years but thistime she got voted in. She was Leutinant (sp.) Governor underJohn Rowland but became Governor after he resigned due to him stealingmoney or taking bribes (whatever is the difference?) lol.

Anyways, in my town, we are still using those really old votingmachines, the ones with the curtains and the big lever that opens andcloses the curtain. It is a huge thing you walk into and shutthe curtain behind you. Sorry, don't have a pic.

Sharon

 

[cheryl]

Dwarf_Angel04 wrote:

Here's what the voting machines look like in Ohio.
There are a few different models that are used.

ohh how interesting is that! maybe in 10 years time,Australia might have something like that lol



Thanks Dwarf Angel



cheryl

 

[SOOOSKA]

Cheryl, don't feel bad Canada:Canada:still uses the good old paper ballots.

Candidate 1 O

Candidate 2O

Candidate 3 O



Put an X in your candidate.



Susan

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

So does someone actually have to COUNT thevotes? Or are they like scantronforms and can be processedthrough a machine?

 

[aurora369]

LOL, yup we count the ballots by hand.

There are two people at every polling station. At the end ofthe voting day, they dump the box, and count the ballots.Then all the ballots are sent in to a master station to be doublecounted.

It actually doesn't take that long. I've worked quite a few of them.

I would actually rather see the ballots continue to be hand countedthan have an electronic system. I trust people more than Itrust computers.

--Dawn