Vote Notes is a series of questions about many of the important issues covered in eLECTIONS. These questions may be used to stimulate debate, delve more deeply into the election process, or discover ways in which the election process has and could continue to evolve. The game's LEARN MORE section contains detailed information and historical context about each issue but not enough to fully answer these questions.

LEARN MORE material and Vote Notes questions were created as a springboard for teacher and student creativity. Using these materials in combination with textbook and reference materials in libraries and on the internet will give the student a deeper and more comprehensive view of the presidential electoral process as they play the eLECTIONS simulation.

LEARN MORE 1 - The Democratic Process

In the U.S., the democratic process is a system whereby a majority of eligible voters select from a slate of candidates to represent them in national, state and local government positions.

Questions to consider:

• How many different kinds of government can you list and define?
• What is a democracy?
• What is a republic?
• In what ways is the U.S. a democracy?
• In what ways is the U.S. a republic?
• What changes have been made in the right to vote that have made the process more "democratic"?

LEARN MORE 2 - Getting Into the Race

Many factors may determine why a politician decides to enter a presidential race.

Questions to consider:

• According to the Constitution, what qualifications must one have to be president of the U.S.? Are these still appropriate? Are other qualifications necessary in the 21st Century?
• What characteristics do voters look for in a president?
• Can a person be elected more than twice as president? If not, why?
• What factors could prevent a person from running for the presidency?

LEARN MORE 2.1 - Declaring Candidacy

Once a person declares candidacy he or she must develop a campaign organization that can use a variety of media to influence voters, raise money to fund the costs of the campaign, and work to gain favor within one's political party and with the electorate as a whole.

Questions to consider:

• What kind of job positions are there within a presidential campaign? What kinds of skills are needed for these kinds of jobs?
• Who should manage the campaign for the candidate?
• In what ways can a candidate gain visibility and generate mass appeal?
• Have means of gaining public attention changed in the 21st century?
• How might the campaign use opinion polls to help the campaign?
• What is a focus group? How can they be used to develop a campaign?

LEARN MORE 2.2 - Campaign Contributions and Campaign Finance Reform

Running for president requires a lot of money. The 2008 election is expected to cost more than $1 billion! Many electoral reforms have been proposed attempting to limit campaign contributions and expenditures, but have met with only mixed results.

Questions to consider:

• What is the meaning of "soft money"?
• Does spending the most money usually result in an election victory?
• Does the individual contributor have a voice in elections? In government?
• Does a large contribution guarantee influence on legislation?
• Is there a need for campaign finance reform?

LEARN MORE 2.3 - Polling: Feedback from the People

A poll involves the selection and questioning of a group of people. When applied in an unbiased and scientific manner, a poll is a relatively effective way of gauging the mood and thinking of the voters.

Question to consider:

• What role do polls play in the development of campaign strategy?
• What is an exit poll?
• What can make a poll question biased or unreliable?
• What factors can contribute to erroneous polling data?

LEARN MORE 2.4 - Development of a Slate of Issues / Position Statements

A candidate's or political party's declaration of principles and policies is their slate of issues or position statements.

Questions to consider:

• Who is responsible for drafting the slate of issues for a candidate? For a political party?
• Do position statements need to be broad and vague enough to appeal to large numbers of voters? If they are that broad could that make them meaningless?
• How do voters learn about a candidate's platform?
• Do voters take into account a full range of issues? Or primarily base their vote on one or only a few issues? What issues are most important in 2008?

LEARN MORE 3 - The Primary Election Process
LEARN MORE 3.1 - Primaries and Caucuses

Primaries and caucuses begin well before the national election. The New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucus are the first opportunities for candidates to secure votes and gain early national exposure. In 2008, February 5 was the so-called "Super Tuesday" or "Tsunami Tuesday" when many states simultaneously held primary elections.

Questions to consider:

• Do the early primaries and caucuses like New Hampshire and Iowa receive too much attention considering the relative size of these states?
• What roles do the media play throughout the primary process?
• Are candidates who are current officeholders at an advantage or disadvantage, since they are both running for and holding office at the same time?
• What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having a national primary to select candidates for president? Of having four or five regional primaries?

LEARN MORE 3.2 - The Political Parties

At the ratification of the Constitution, political parties did not exist in the US. It was not long, however, before the first parties formed and they've been with us ever since.

Questions to consider:

• What issues are most important to the Democratic Party today?
• What issues are most important to the Republican Party today?
• Have the lines between the two major parties become more distinct or more blurred in the past few decades?
• Have the two major parties gotten stronger or weaker in the past few elections?
• What is the organizational structure of a major political party?

LEARN MORE 3.3 - Third Parties

Throughout American history third parties have offered alternatives to the dominant political parties. Sometimes they have been formed around a single issue; others have been formed around an ideology. Occasionally, a third party can affect the result of an election.

Questions to consider:

• What is the difference between a single issue and ideological third party?
• What are the major obstacles facing third parties?
• How does the "winner take all" system of awarding electoral votes affect third party candidates?

LEARN MORE 3.4 - Attack Politics and Mudslinging

To disseminate information, political campaigns rely heavily on advertising, press releases and even the strategic leaking of information.

Questions to consider:

• What advertising techniques are current candidates using?
• How effective are "attack ads in gaining electoral support?
• What is the role of a "spin doctor" in dealing with public perceptions?
• At what time during a campaign is media advertising most effective in gaining the attention of the undecided voter?

LEARN MORE 4 - The Party Conventions
LEARN MORE 4.1 - What is a Party Convention?

Conventions allow delegates, volunteers, fundraisers and other party supporters to gather together, formally nominate a candidate, and energize themselves for the final months of the campaign.

Questions to consider:

• Are political conventions becoming less or more important?
• What are the purposes of a national party convention today?
• How does a person become a delegate at a national party convention?

LEARN MORE 4.2 - The Vice Presidential Candidate

At conventions, the parties not only nominate their candidates for president, but also their candidates for vice president - the running mate.

Questions to consider:

• What are the most important criteria in selecting a running mate?
• Do voters consider the vice presidential candidate in making their choice for president?
• What have been the traditional roles of the vice president through history?
• Have recent vice presidents changed those roles?

LEARN MORE 5.1 - The Electoral College

The Electoral College is a body of electors representing every state in the union. When voters cast their vote for president, they are really choosing the electors who will cast their votes for the next president.

Questions to consider:

• How does the Electoral College help maintain the concept of federalism?
• How does the Electoral College system influence candidates?
• What are the Congressional District Method and the "winner take all" system for determining electors? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct popular vote for president?
• Should the U.S. Constitution be changed to allow a direct popular vote election of the president?

LEARN MORE 5.2 - Instruments of the Vote

In order to vote, a voter must be a U.S. citizen, over 18 years of age, registered to vote.

Questions to consider:

• How have the requirements to be a voter changed over time?
• Are there any other restrictions on voting eligibility?
• Which kind of voting technology (paper ballot, touch screen, etc.) does your state use and why?
• Should online voting be allowed? Why or why not?
• What does the ballot look like-is it an "office block" or "party column"? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
• Which ballot arrangement would encourage "ticket splitting?"
• What are critical issues associated ballot design and the increasing use of technology in casting votes?
• What are the potential problems with voting by mail, as in Oregon?

LEARN MORE 5.3 - The 2000 Election

The 2000 presidential election was the closest in the history of the republic-so close it took a decision by the US Supreme Court to settle. In the end, George W. Bush won Florida by a margin of only 537 votes. With Florida, he won the electoral college, even though he lost the popular vote.

Questions to consider:

• What happened in Florida in the 2000 election?
• Why did the U.S. Supreme Court have a role in the electoral process? What were the constitutional provisions for its involvement?
• How has your state changed the technology, ballot or process to prevent problems like Florida encountered in 2000?
• Is a change in the Electoral College method of selecting a president likely or unlikely?
• Should the Congressional District Method be used in place of the Electoral College?