Does my vote really

count?
Matt DePalma
Matt Franco
 Learning objectives

• Students will be able to explain how a candidate can be

elected without receiving the majority of the popular
vote

• Students will be able to evaluate and critique our

current political system for electing the president

• Students will understand and become familiar with

vocabulary that is used in the electoral process
 Warm up

• Take a few minutes to and write down a couple

responses to the following question:

How is the President of the

United States elected??
Now the class as individuals will take a vote to
answer this question:
Which of the following is the best NFL team?
New York Giants
New York Jets
New England Patriots
• Break into three groups each selecting one person in
the group as the “elector”

• The group will decide and select their favorite NFL

team

• The elector may not participate in the discussion and

has the final vote that represents the interests of each
group
Remember, the United States is not a “direct democracy”
but rather is a representative democracy and the
President is elected through the Electoral College

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9H3gvnN468
 On a separate sheet
of paper…
Answer the following questions:

• Explain how a President can be elected without

winning the popular vote

• Do electors have to vote with the interests of the

people in mind? Why or why not.
 Time to Debate

• In true American democratic fashion, it is time to

debate!!

• One half of the class will come up with pros of the

electoral college while the other half will come up with
cons and be prepared to share their findings!