Who Gets to Vote, and How Votes Become Seats · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Who votes and how votes count

Civics & Economics · Government · ages 14-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Ten votes split four, three, and three. Who wins under plurality?

    • The candidate with three
    • Nobody ever wins
    • The candidate with four

  2. How did the franchise widen?

    • In stages, each contested
    • All at once everywhere
    • By court lottery

  3. What did the Silent Sentinels do?

    • Counted ballots in secret
    • Picketed the White House for women's votes
    • Wrote voting machines

  4. Ten seats are shared in proportion to votes. Party A holds 60 percent of the votes. How many seats does Party A win?

    Answer: ______________

  5. What happens in a runoff?

    • The weakest candidate wins at once
    • Ballots are thrown away
    • Top finishers face a second vote

  6. Twelve votes split five, four, and three. Under first-past-the-post, how many votes does the winner hold?

    Answer: ______________

  7. Two towns use equal rules, but one votes at work-friendly hours near homes. What do you expect?

    • Equal turnout whatever happens
    • Lower turnout where voting is easier
    • Higher turnout where voting is easier

  8. Ranked-choice crowns a different winner than plurality from the same ballots. What does that prove?

    • Voters cheated in one round
    • The counting rule can change who wins
    • Majorities no longer matter
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Who votes and how votes count W1-mt_nteHv_swOv-s1

  1. The candidate with four · Plurality crowns the most votes, even without a majority.
  2. In stages, each contested · Each group won the vote through its own struggle.
  3. Picketed the White House for women's votes · They picketed for years and faced arrest and hunger strikes.
  4. 6 · Six tenths of ten seats equals 6 seats.
  5. Top finishers face a second vote · A runoff votes again between the top finishers.
  6. 5 · The most votes win, and five beats four and three.
  7. Higher turnout where voting is easier · Travel, queues, and clashing hours keep people home.
  8. The counting rule can change who wins · Same ballots, different governments: the rule decides.
Worksheet · LightMySky