Voting & Electoral Politics

Voting is a bedrock mechanism of a healthy democracy, but the politics associated with elections have been complicated since the very start of the Republic. This module provides information on the reasoning behind the creation of the electoral college, voting trends that took root in the 2016 election, the importance of the Latino vote, and why it is important to become a political actor in the American democratic experiment. 

At the conclusion of this video series, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the strengths, weaknesses and ethical dynamics of the Electoral College and its influence on presidential elections. 

  2. Understand how age and ethnic diversity influence election outcomes in the U.S. 

  3. Apply a critical lens to the many ways in which electoral politics and policies affect social welfare policy and social justice for specific groups in U.S. society. 

Components of the video series:*

  • Introduction to Election 2016

  • The Electoral College: Great Idea or Garbage?

  • The Latino Vote: Sleeping Giant of American Politics?

  • Face-to-Face: Understanding the 2016 Election

  • Conclusion: Becoming a Political Actor

* An extensive reference section is also available for download

Estimated Time to Complete video series: 1.5 hours (1.5 CE credits)

Note: All course content must be viewed and an evaluation completed before the CE certificate can be issued.

Price: $15

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Voting & Electoral Politics

    • Opening

    • The Electoral College: Great Idea or Garbage?

    • Female Presidential Candidates

    • The Latino Vote: Sleeping Giant of American Politics?

    • The National Popular Vote Initiative

    • Pachanga for Trump!

    • Conclusion: Becoming a Political Actor

    • References

    • Evaluation

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About the instructor

Founder, OfCourse!

Miguel Ferguson

Hello, my name is Miguel Ferguson. My teaching career began at the high school level but for the last 20 years I have taught courses in Social Welfare Policy, Poverty, and Social Justice in leading schools of social work. I founded OfCourse! to make dynamic information on these topics accessible to students and busy instructors. OfCourse! content is engaging and up to date and each lesson comes with "Interactives" (drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, drop-down menu choices, etc). OfCourse! materials are fun and engaging and designed to help busy teachers inform and inspire students with interactive and easy-to-use content. Dr. Ferguson is also the author of two popular books on the intersection of policy and community change ("Caught in the Storm" and "Navigating Policy & Practice in the Great Recession") and a graphic novel on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War ("¡Brigadistas!").