As you learned in Chapter 2, it’s useful to know the specifics of the U.S. Constitution. Aspects of federalism can be found throughout the document. Article I, Section 4, states, for instance, that “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Chusing [sic] Senators.” In other words, one of the most fundamental forms of American political participation, that of organized elections, may be conducted along different lines by the states. In the twenty-first century, federalism allows states to experiment with different technologies and models for voting.
While the Internet is not yet a source of major variation between state governments’ electoral systems, the web is a useful resource to understand other differences that currently exist between states.
Using Rock the Vote’s Election Center, http://www.rockthevote.com/election-center/, compare voter registration regulations in your state and in two others. |
| 1a. Select your state on the map. When is the registration deadline for the next election? How far in advance of the election is this deadline? Does your state offer early voting? Does having committed a felony affect eligibility to vote in your state?
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| 1b. Now select two other states. Which states did you choose?
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| 1c. When are the registration deadlines for the next election in these states? How far in advance of the election are these deadlines? Do these states offer early voting? Does having committed a felony affect eligibility to vote in these states?
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| 1d. What are the advantages of each state having flexibility in determining how elections are administered? Are there any drawbacks?
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| The U.S. government increasingly posts good comparative data on the states online for quick reference. Use the Census Bureau website to research more demographic differences between the states, located at: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/, and answer the following questions:
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| 2a. What is the estimated population of your state? |
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| 2b. What is the median household income of your state? |
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| 2c. What percent of the people in your state are under 18 years old?
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| 2d. How do you think these statistics affect state policies and procedures?
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