Terms Glossary

What is Absentee Voting?

The definition of an Absentee Voter is a person who is registered to vote but does not physically go to the polling location on election day. Instead, they cast their ballot by mail or in person before election day. Absentee voting is a great way for people who are unable to physically attend their polling location on election day to still participate in the democratic process. This includes people who are away from home due to work, travel, military service, or illness. With the implementation of Absentee Voting, everyone can participate in the democratic process regardless of any obstacles that prevent them from attending their polling location on election day. While Absentee Voting has been a great way to increase voter participation, there have been some concerns raised with regard to potential voter fraud. To combat this, many states have implemented safeguards such as requiring a valid ID along with the ballot and verifying that the person submitting the absentee ballot is in fact the same person registered to vote. These safeguards help ensure that the democratic process remains fair and that only eligible voters are able to cast their ballot. Overall, Absentee Voting is a great way for people to participate in the democratic process even if they are unable to physically attend the polling place on election day. By implementing safeguards to protect against fraud, Absentee Voting can help to ensure that the democratic process remains fair and accessible to all eligible voters.

In the United States, an Agriculture Commissioner is an elected or appointed official responsible for promoting and regulating agriculture within a state. The specific duties of the Agriculture Commissioner vary from state to state, but generally include regulating agricultural products, promoting agriculture as an industry, and overseeing various programs related to agriculture, such as crop insurance and farm loans.

Several states have an elected Agriculture Commissioner as part of their state government. The exact title and responsibilities of the Agriculture Commissioner may vary by state, but in general, they play a key role in promoting and regulating agriculture within the state.

Some states that have an elected Agriculture Commissioner include Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. However, it's important to note that this list may not be comprehensive and that some states may have an appointed Agriculture Commissioner instead of an elected one.

Definition and meaning of Alderman: An Alderman is a member of a local government elected to represent a particular ward or district in a municipality. The position of Alderman is usually held by members of a major political party, however, in some areas, independent candidates are becoming increasingly popular. This is particularly beneficial to reform-minded candidates who are advocating for a shift away from the traditional two-party system. An Alderman is responsible for passing laws and allocating funds within the ward or district they represent. They also serve as a voice for their constituents and strive to ensure that their needs are being met. Alderman are elected for a set term of office, and generally serve for two to four years, depending on the municipality.

Anonymous contributions refer to monetary or non-monetary donations given to a cause or organization without the identity of the donor being disclosed or made public. They are a form of philanthropy that allows for individuals to support causes or organizations of their choice without fear of backlash or judgement, and provide a way for people to contribute to social and political causes without having to face any personal consequences. Anonymous contributions are important because they allows for individuals or organizations to support causes or organizations that they may not be able to support publicly or openly. Anonymous contributions provide a way for people to voice their opinion on certain issues without fear of repercussions or social stigma. They also provide a way for people to donate to causes or organizations that they may not be comfortable publicly endorsing. For example, an individual may not want to be associated with a particular political campaign but may still want to support it financially. Anonymous contributions provide a way for them to do this without having to make their identity known. Anonymous contributions can also be used to fund research or projects that may not have access to traditional sources of funding. By providing a way for people to support causes without having to disclose their identity, anonymous contributions provide a means to fund projects that may not be possible using traditional sources of funding. Overall, anonymous contributions provide a way for individuals and organizations to support causes or organizations of their choice without fear of backlash or judgement. They also provide a way for people to fund projects or research that may not have access to traditional sources of funding.

A definition of appointed incumbent is someone who is appointed to an office, typically by the government, but who is not elected or voted in by the people. This type of system gives the government the power to choose who will hold a particular office, rather than allowing the people to decide. This can create a situation where the appointed incumbent is not necessarily the best choice for the job, but instead is chosen by the government for political or other reasons. Appointed incumbents often lack the legitimacy of an elected official and can be seen as a form of cronyism. This system of appointing incumbents can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency, as those in power are able to choose who they wish to represent the people.

Approval voting is an electoral system that allows voters to express support for as many candidates as they wish, rather than being limited to selecting just one. Under this system, voters simply mark the candidates that they approve of on their ballot, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election.

One of the main advantages of approval voting is that it allows voters to support multiple candidates without worrying about "wasting" their vote or splitting the vote in a way that could benefit the candidate they like the least. This can be particularly appealing to supporters of independent or third party candidates, who may feel that the two major parties do not adequately represent their views.

There are a few examples of approval voting in action. In 2018, Fargo, North Dakota became the first city in the United States to use approval voting in a municipal election. According to a survey conducted by FairVote, a majority of Fargo voters found the system easy to use and preferred it to the traditional first-past-the-post system.

Other places that have experimented with approval voting include the city of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as a number of professional societies and organizations. In these cases, approval voting has been credited with helping to promote more diverse and representative leadership, as it allows voters to support candidates from a range of different backgrounds and perspectives.

Overall, approval voting is an innovative and flexible electoral system that gives voters more control over their ballots and allows them to express support for multiple candidates if they choose. By breaking free from the constraints of the traditional two-party system, it can help to promote greater diversity and representation in the political process.

In the United States, an Auditor is an elected or appointed official responsible for conducting financial and performance audits of government agencies and programs. The specific duties of the Auditor vary from state to state, but generally include reviewing financial records, identifying waste or fraud, and ensuring that government agencies are operating efficiently and effectively.

Many states have an elected Auditor as part of their state government. The exact title and responsibilities of the Auditor may vary by state, but in general, they play a key role in ensuring that government agencies are accountable to taxpayers and that public funds are being used appropriately.

Some states that have an elected Auditor include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. However, it's important to note that this list may not be comprehensive and that the specific duties and responsibilities of the Auditor can vary widely depending on the state.

Authoritarianism is a form of governance where political power is concentrated in a single ruler or ruling party, with little to no opposition or accountability. It is characterized by a top-down decision-making process, where citizens are subjected to a strict set of laws, regulations, and rules with little to no input or dissent. This form of government has been historically wielded by oppressive regimes who have sought to control their citizens and maintain a homogenous population. Authoritarianism is the antithesis of democracy, where the people have a role in governing and shaping their own societies. It is a system that allows for a few individuals to have a large amount of power and control over the masses. This power can be used to shape policies, laws, and regulations that serve only the interests of the ruling party, while ignoring the needs of the populace. Examples of authoritarianism include the regimes of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin. All three dictators used their authoritarian power to control and manipulate their citizens, and their policies led to the suppression of freedom, civil liberties, and human rights. In today's world, authoritarianism is still prevalent in many forms. From the two-party system in the US, to the government of North Korea, authoritarianism is still a major issue that must be addressed. To counteract this, reform-minded individuals and organizations are advocating for more independent candidates and an end to the two-party system.

Automatic voter registration (AVR) is a system that automatically registers eligible citizens to vote when they interact with certain government agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles or a social services office. The goal of AVR is to increase voter turnout and eliminate barriers to voting, such as the need to manually register. Under AVR, eligible citizens are registered to vote unless they opt out. This is in contrast to traditional voter registration systems, in which citizens must actively register to vote.

AVR can also improve the accuracy of voter rolls by linking voter registration information to existing government databases, such as those used to issue driver's licenses or ID cards. This can help to prevent errors and reduce the potential for voter fraud. Additionally, AVR can help to increase voter turnout by making it easier for eligible citizens to register to vote. This can help to ensure that more citizens are able to participate in the democratic process, regardless of their political affiliation.

However, it's important to note that automatic voter registration alone doesn't guarantee that every citizen will vote, or that every vote will be counted. Additionally, AVR doesn't address any issues related to redistricting or gerrymandering, which can also impact voter turnout and representation.

Overall, automatic voter registration is a system that aims to increase voter turnout and eliminate barriers to voting by automatically registering eligible citizens to vote when they interact with certain government agencies, unless they opt out.