CPCT CPCT Electoral Systems and Voting Rights 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'ranked-choice voting' (RCV)?
- Voters rank candidates by preference; if no one wins outright, lower-ranked candidates are eliminated (Correct answer)
- Votes are weighted based on voter income
- Candidates are ranked by party officials before the election
- Electoral votes are distributed proportionally by state
Correct answer: Voters rank candidates by preference; if no one wins outright, lower-ranked candidates are eliminated
In ranked-choice voting, voters rank candidates in order of preference, and candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated in rounds until one reaches a majority.
Question 2: What does 'voter suppression' refer to in U.S. political discourse?
- Encouraging low voter turnout through civic campaigns
- Strategies used to discourage or prevent specific groups from voting (Correct answer)
- Limiting campaign spending to reduce influence
- Removing candidates from ballots for misconduct
Correct answer: Strategies used to discourage or prevent specific groups from voting
Voter suppression refers to tactics—such as strict ID laws, reduced polling hours, or purging voter rolls—intended to reduce turnout among particular groups.
Question 3: How are U.S. Senators chosen under the current system?
- Appointed by state governors
- Elected by state legislatures
- Directly elected by voters in each state (Correct answer)
- Chosen by the Electoral College
Correct answer: Directly elected by voters in each state
Since the 17th Amendment (1913), U.S. Senators are directly elected by the voters of their state rather than appointed by state legislatures.
Question 4: What is a 'primary election' in the U.S. political system?
- The final election between major party candidates
- An election to select a party's candidate for a general election (Correct answer)
- A local election held before state elections
- An election exclusively for incumbents seeking re-election
Correct answer: An election to select a party's candidate for a general election
A primary election is held within a political party to determine which candidate will represent that party in the general election.
Question 5: The concept of 'one person, one vote' was established by which landmark Supreme Court case?
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Reynolds v. Sims (1964) (Correct answer)
- Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
- Bush v. Gore (2000)
Correct answer: Reynolds v. Sims (1964)
Reynolds v. Sims (1964) established the 'one person, one vote' principle, requiring state legislative districts to be roughly equal in population.
Question 6: What is the minimum voting age in U.S. federal elections, as set by the 26th Amendment?
- 16
- 17
- 18 (Correct answer)
- 21
Correct answer: 18
The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18 for all federal, state, and local elections.
CPCT CPCT Electoral Systems and Voting Rights 2
What is 'ranked-choice voting' (RCV)?