Polling places are usually located in public buildings like schools and town halls. General elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and are controlled by local boards of elections. The candidate who receives the most votes (plurality) typically wins elections, while the majority of electoral votes determines the presidential election winner. Citizens can propose ballot initiatives through petitions and vote on referendums to approve or disapprove proposed bills.

1. Polling Places
-Polling Places
-precinct based
-Usually in schools, town halls, public
places
-open early and close late

2. General Elections
-Elections are controlled by the local
Board of Elections
-General Election held November--1st
Tuesday after 1st Monday
-Plurality---winning the most votes
-majority---getting more than half of
the votes
-most popular votes (plurality) wins most
elections
-majority of electoral votes determine
the winner of the Presidency

3. Voting on Issues
-Initiatives
-method where citizens propose a
bill through a petition and place it
on the ballot for a general election
vote
-Referendums
-method of public approval for a
proposed bill where the legislature
temporarily passes a bill until the
public is given a chance to approve
or disapprove the bill

4. Casting Your Vote
-must go to the polling place
-I.D. is checked against list of
registered voters
-cast your vote
paper ballots
lever machines
punch cards
computer
-you may encounter an exit poll

5. Types of Votes
-Straight Ticket
-voting only for one political party
-Split Ticket
-voting for candidates from either
party
-Absentee Ballot
-Write-In Votes

6. Special Kinds of Elections
-Referendums
-Initiatives
-Recounts
-Run-Offs
-Recalls