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Modes of Election

Essential Question 

  • How do the different methods of federal elections work? 

Guiding Questions 

  • What is the difference between the popular vote and the Electoral College? 
  • Which elections utilize the popular vote?  
  • Which elections utilize the Electoral College?  

Objectives: 

  • Students will be able to explain the difference between the Electoral College and popular vote, including the offices for which each method is used.  
  • Students will understand the structure of the Electoral College. 

Materials: 

Anticipate: 

Have students review the Electoral College Homework Help Video. This can be done as homework or as part of a warm-up. 

Engage: 

  • Pose the question, “Should today’s assignment be completed individually, in partners, in small groups, or as a whole class?” 
  • After tallying the vote, ask students if they know what method/type of voting they just participated in. (Popular vote). Transition: “Today’s lesson will be a look into when the popular vote is used and when the country uses the Electoral College. We will be doing so by analyzing different excerpts about those methods of voting. 
  • If desired, illustrate an example of the Electoral College by taking the vote further (demonstrate how electors are chosen by their state, choose electors from the students in class, have the “electors” have the final say).  

Explore:

  • Students will need a copy of the “Methods of Election” Handout. 
  • The first column contains excerpts from different sources related to either the Electoral College or popular vote.  
  • In the second column, students are asked to identify which method of election (Electoral College or popular vote) is being referenced. 
  • The third column asks students for an explanation, such as by rewording to demonstrate understanding. Instruct students to complete this section with as much detail as fits your class needs. “How do you know?” “What words or phrases helped you decide?” “Summarize the excerpt in your explanation” could be used as guiding questions to provide assistance if needed.  
  • Review the handout with students and confirm that they are clear that congressional elections are conducted via the popular vote while presidential elections are conducted via the Electoral College, then have them move to the reflection questions.  

Assess & Reflect:

  • Have students respond to the following reflection questions in writing, discussion, or video format: 
  • Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures; does that align more with the ideas of the popular vote or the Electoral College? Explain. 
  • What is one strength and one weakness of each method (popular vote, Electoral College)?  

Extend:

  • Extension A: Our Think the Vote platform encourages students to engage with each other in civil discourse on current event topics. This week, we are asking students to address the question: Should States Expand Access for Voting in Elections? Students with the best answers on each side will win an Amazon gift card and also be entered for a chance to win $1,000 grand prize. Referring teachers will also win a gift card of their own. 
  • Extension B: Investigate the presidential elections (2016, 2000, 1888, 1876, 1824) in which the popular vote winner did not align with the Electoral College winner. Applying their knowledge of the purpose of the Electoral College, do these elections show a strength or flaw in the system?  

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