Without fail, just as it seems like all the campaign signs have been taken down from people's yards and the sides of the road, entirely new ones pop up to advertise the litany of names of people vying for public office. While the voting and election process can vary wildly from one area to another, there are some common elements that all individuals share in these processes. Understanding the framework of these elections, including the restrictions placed on voting and the consequences of these restrictions, can allow for a person to be more well-informed about some of the most pressing political issues facing our society at present.

It can feel like there are always campaign advertisements on television, like we just finished an election and another one is creeping up on us, like we'll never get the "My name is ... and I approve this message" line out of our heads. But each of those minor annoyances is a small price to pay for us to have the privilege of voting for the individuals that are going to wield power in this country. When individuals work to be informed voters, they are less likely to find that minor election paraphernalia to be annoying, and more likely to see it as a sign that our democratic system and our democratic process is operating successfully.

To-Do List:

Read Chapters 7 and 9 in the Course Textbook
Watch the five videos that are part of the Electoral College Overview media series.
Discussion Question 1 (initial post due Wednesday, November 26 at 11:59pm, replies by Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm)
Discussion Question 2 (initial post on Wednesday, November 26 at 11:59 p.m.; replies by Sunday, November 30 at 11:59 p.m.)
Chapter 7 Quiz due Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm.
Chapter 9 Quiz due Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm.
Weekly Assignment due Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm.

Please watch/listen to the following multimedia sources:

“Election Basics: Crash Course Government and Politics #36.” Crash Course.
“How Voters Decide: Crash Course Government and Politics #38.” Crash Course.
“Gerrymandering: Crash Course Government and Politics #37.” Crash Course.

Please visit the following websites:

Visit this site and take time to either register to vote or confirm that you are already registered to vote. If you do not want to register, then explore the website and learn exactly what you would need to do if you did decide to register.
On the website for the National Museum of American History, take a few minutes and browse their online collection of Political Novelties. Look closely at the various campaigning accessories, and take note of how they have changed over time.
Take the Political Typology quiz from Pew Research Center. Answer each question as honestly as you can, and take note of your results. While this is not meant to sway you to join one political party or another, it is still a valuable exercise in identifying the political party that is most aligned with your personal political beliefs.

References:

Adam Ruins Everything – Why the Electoral College Ruins Democracy.
America’s Contentious Presidential Elections: A History. Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Bismark, David. “E-voting Without Fraud.” TEDGlobal2010. July 2010.

Bomboy, Scott. “Does the Constitution Allow for a Delayed Presidential Election?” Constitution Daily. National Constitution Center. 10 April 2020.
Campaign Fundraising. UnRepresented. PBS LearningMedia.
A Constitutional History of the Right to Vote. Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Coyle, Marcia.“Has America ‘Changed’ in Racially Discriminatory Voting?” Constitution Daily. National Constitution Center. 1 March 2021.
Denniston, Lyle. “The Fate of Partisan Gerrymandering – Now and Later.” Constitution Daily. National Constitution Center. 25 March 2019.
---. “Has the Time Come to Shut Down the Electoral College?” Constitution Daily. National Constitution Center. 22 March 2019.

---. “The Teenage Voter and the Constitution.” Constitution Daily. National Constitution Center. 29 August 2018.
Election Foundations. The U.S. Presidency. PBS LearningMedia.
Epps-Johnson, Tiana. “What’s Needed to Bring the US Voting System Into the 21^st Century.” TED Salon: Zebra Technologies. October 2018.
The Evolution of Voting Rights. We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
“'Faithless Electors' – Supreme Court Argument Recap." We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Felons and the Right to Vote. We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
The Fight for Fair Voting. Politics on Point. PBS LearningMedia.
The General Election. The U.S. Presidency. PBS LearningMedia.
Gerrymandering and American Democracy. We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Getting the Nomination. The U.S. Presidency. PBS LearningMedia.
Getting Out the Vote.
A History of Voting Rights. The New York Times.
Learning About National Elections. Interactive Constitution. National Constitution Center.
Parties, Platforms, Conventions, and the Constitution. We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
The Past, the Present, and Future of Presidential Elections. Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
“Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35.”Crash Course.
The Poll Dance. We the Voters. PBS LearningMedia.
Political Comic Books. Founding Fragments. National Museum of American History.
A Primer on Presidential Primaries. Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Scholar Exchange: Voting Rights Amendments. Interactive Constitution. National Constitution Center.
Should we Abolish the Electoral College? We the People Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Should we Make Voting Mandatory? America From Scratch. PBS LearningMedia.
Voting Rights Today. Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Why do Americans Vote on Tuesdays? TED-Ed.
Why Does the Electoral College Exist? Live at the National Constitutional Center Podcast. National Constitution Center.
Why Midterm Elections Are Important. Things Explained. PBS LearningMedia.