Election2014 editable gr_k_5

Election 2014
Teachers: this is an editable presentation. Use only the
slides that apply to your location and grade levels. Please
check the website for the student candidate guide,
curriculum, vocabulary, essential questions, and other tools.
www.generationnation.org
www.generationnation.org | facebook.com/generationnation | twitter.com/gennation

Election vocabulary
Election - Organized, fair process for choosing officials
Vote - Make a decision
Candidate - A person running for office
Office - An elected role in government
Referendum - A public vote on a policy or issue
Find more vocabulary at
www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/learning-opportunity-election-2014

Political parties
Groups of people who have similar ideas
Major US political parties
• Democrats www.democrats.org
• Republicans www.gop.com
• Libertarians www.lp.org
Some government offices are nonpartisan
• The individual candidates can have political ideas but
don’t officially run as members of a political party

NC ballot change
In 2014, political party candidates are listed in a
different order on the ballot
Before 2014: political parties and candidates in
alphabetical order
– Example: Kay, a Democrat, was listed before Thom, a
Republican, because D comes before R
2014: candidate order is begins with the party whose
Governor won the last election
– Example: Thom, a Republican, is listed before Kay, a
Democrat, because the Governor is Republican

On the student ballot
Grades K-12
– United States Senate
Grades 3-12
– Mecklenburg County Commission At-Large
– Referendum: Charlotte bonds and Mecklenburg sales tax
Grades 6-12
– United States House of Representatives
– Mecklenburg County Commission Districts
– Mecklenburg County Sheriff
– NC Senate and House (online ballot only)

Learn about
the candidates and issues

U.S. Senate
Part of Congress, the governing body of the U.S.
– Senate
– House of Representatives
Senator
– 6-year terms
– Each state elects 2 senators (in different years)
Learn about the candidates
www.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2014

Role of U.S. Senator
Responsibilities include
– Represent North Carolina residents in Congress
– Make decisions
– Collaborate with other Senators
– Work with the House to write and pass laws
– Confirm Presidential nominations
– Ratify treaties

United States Senate
Candidates

County government
A county is a unit of government
Cities and towns are located within counties
• 100 counties in N.C.
Each level of government has its own elected
officials, staff, services, budget
City and county government have different roles
• County services impact people: Health, safety, social services,
education, and environment
• City services provide infrastructure: Roads, airport, public
transportation, economic development, neighborhoods, housing

County Commission
Governing body for Mecklenburg County
2-year terms
9 total seats on County Commission
• 6 District: officials represent just one part of the
community
• 3 At-Large: officials represent whole county
Learn about the candidates

County Commission Role
Responsibilities include:
– Adopt annual county budget; set property tax rate
– Define county priorities and policies
– Public and mental health
– Community safety, courts, jails
– Education (CMS, CPCC, libraries, other education services)
– Parks & Rec, greenways, air, water, recycling
– Services for women, children, veterans, disabled, poor
– Hire the county manager, a professional who
manages the daily operations of the county

Mecklenburg County
County Commissioner – At-Large
Vote for 3 candidates

City $146 million bond
Bond: a way for governments to borrow
money to finance capital projects.
– Capital projects = construction and building
Citizens vote for or against the bonds in
a ballot referendum.
2014 bond is for streets, housing, and
neighborhoods
Learn about the bond

County Sales Tax
Sales Tax: a tax paid to a government on the
sales of certain goods and services
• Taxes help to fund government budgets
• Government budgets pay for public services
Now: Mecklenburg County sales tax is 7.25%
• 4.75% goes to NC government, 2% is for local
government, and ½ % is for local public transit
• If you buy a $10 shirt in Mecklenburg County, the total
cost would be 10.73, including the sales tax.
Referendum: Increase the sales tax to 7.5%
• If approved, your $10 shirt would then cost $10.75.

¼ Cent Sales Tax Increase
Mecklenburg sales tax referendum
Increase sales tax by ¼ of one cent
– Education – teacher pay at CMS and CPCC
– Arts – arts, science, and history programs
– Libraries – books, materials, library services
Learn about the sales tax referendum

Get ready to vote!

Read and learn
Start with an issue YOU care about
– Education, environment, safety, transportation,
economy/jobs, children, neighborhoods, teachers
Find information about the candidates
• GenerationNation Student Candidate Guide
www.generationnation.org
– Includes candidate debate videos and other information
• Charlotte Observer www.charlotteobserver.com
Educational resources and tools
• www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/learning-opportunity-election-2014

Read, think, decide
1. Learn about the candidates
2. Think about the information
3. Choose candidates you like best
4. Vote
5. After the election, keep track of the
candidates & their promises and actions

Think
Does this information help me?
Is it from a good, truthful source?
Does it fit with other facts I know?
How does it make me feel?
Do I know enough to make a decision?
• If not, learn and read more
• Tip: Focus on the individual candidates, their ideas and
solutions instead of political parties

Choose a candidate
Review
– What did each candidate say? Did they…
• Have ideas or solutions…
• …or complain a lot?
• Ask questions?
Decide
– Which one do you agree with the most?
– Based on the information you know, do you think
the candidate will do a good job?

Vote
Who do YOU think should win in Election
2014? Make your voice heard!
– K-12 students vote Oct. 21-Nov. 4
– www.generationnation.org
– Results announced November 4 (evening)
Voting options
• Vote at school
• Vote online, anywhere
• Vote at Kids Voting booths at certain polling places on
Oct. 25, Oct. 31, Nov. 1, and Nov. 4

After the election
Look for official election results
– Adult vote
• Board of Elections www.meckboe.org and www.ncsbe.gov
• Media www.charlotteobserver.com
– Student vote
• www.generationnation.org and social media
• Did students elect different candidates?
Keep track of the winning candidates
– Do they keep their campaign promises?
– Do they make good decisions?
Stay involved
– Watch or attend government meetings, write letters or email officials
– Teens, join the youth council www.generationnation.org/index.php/youthvoice

Election2014 editable gr_k_5

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