Lindsay McMahon
"The English Adventurer"
Aubrey Carter
"3 Keys IELTS Certified Coach"

Do you like talking about American politics?

There is one month left until the pivotal presidential election in the United States.

Listen to today’s episode which is the first installment of a four-part series.

Lindsay and Aubrey share the vocabulary that you need to participate in interesting conversations about American politics.

Politics in America

Lindsay and Aubrey want to give you the tools and vocabulary to be able to participate in an interesting conversation about the elections.

This year’s U.S. Presidential election may be the most important election of the last 50 years.

A lot of people will be talking about it.

There will be discussions about who the president should be in the U.S.

Lindsay and Aubrey encourage you to connect about politics.

This is a social interaction that can be valuable for you to make strong connections.

You want to have the expressions and vocabulary to be able to share your thoughts or even ask questions and learn from others.

Background on U.S. politics

Before getting into the vocabulary, Lindsay and Aubrey share a bit of background about the U.S. presidential elections.

There are two main parties that have a presidential candidate.

These are the Democratic party and the Republican party.

It’s vital to understand the difference between the two in terms of their advocacies.

You may also hear the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ when referring to the Democrats and Republicans.

The Democrats are the left party and Republicans are the right party.

#1: Democratic Party

  • Advocates for abortion rights
  • Advocates for voting rights
  • Advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights
  • Action on climate change
  • Moves for the legalization marijuana
  • Advocates for healthcare reform
  • Advocates for child care
  • Advocates for paid sick leave
  • Advocates for supporting unions
  • Hands off on foreign policies

#2: Republican Party

  • Restricting legality of abortion
  • Discouraging or prohibiting recreational drugs
  • Pro gun ownership or have less restriction
  • Opposition to LGBTQIA+ rights
  • Supports foreign policy which is more for promoting democracy with force and supporting countries that uphold democracy

There are other parties but they don’t have nearly as much support as the two main parties.

You may hear about other parties

  • Libertarian party
  • Green party
  • Constitution party

When someone decides to vote for a candidate in one of these parties, it basically wastes the vote.

This is because there are a lot more supporters in the two main parties.

Vocabulary to know

Here is some vocabulary to know when you join a conversation regarding politics in the U.S.

This will give you the foundation you need to participate in these discussions.

#1: Party

This refers to a group of persons organized to acquire and exercise political power.

There are many different parties in the U.S.

Each has different stances on various issues.

#2: Candidate

A candidate is a person nominated for election to a political office.

There are usually two main candidates for voters to choose from.

Many are frustrated with this two-party system because they’d like more choices.

#3: Independent

This is a voter who doesn’t align themselves with a party and votes on issues instead.

They register as an independent which means they’re not affiliated with a party.

#4: Registered to vote

Anyone who wants to vote in the U.S. must register.

You must provide certain documentation to be able to register as a voter.

In the U.S., you must be 18 years old to vote.

Different states have different registration requirements.

Aubrey shares that registration in Arizona has to happen at least 30 days before an election.

#5: Ballot

This refers to the process of voting.

You are selecting who you want to win, typically in secret.

In the U.S., there are usually small and temporary walled booths set up in public buildings like a library, court house, community center, school, or a fire station.

#6: Absentee ballot

These are ballots that are also called a ‘mail-in ballot’ or ‘mail-in voting.’

Lindsay shares that she does this because she lives in the state of Colorado.

She finds mailing her ballot easy and convenient.

There is often a long queue on election day and it can be time-consuming to vote.

There are eight states that automatically mail everyone a ballot but in the other states, you would need to request a mail-in ballot.

Roleplay

Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the vocabulary shared in today’s episode.

This is for you to better understand how these phrases are used in a conversation.

In this scenario, Aubrey and Lindsay are discussing where they will vote in the upcoming election.

Aubrey: I usually get a mail-in ballot so I don’t have to wait in lines. What about you?
Lindsay: I like to go to a polling place on election day. I usually go to a school near my home.
Aubrey: I have neighbors that are both Democrat and Republican but no one really puts up signs.
Lindsay: I have a neighbor that volunteers for the Libertarian party. I think she’s an Independent.
Aubrey: That’s awesome. It’d be nice to get to know what politicians are really like instead of just their public persona.

Takeaway

Today’s vocabulary will help prepare you for conversations about U.S. politics.

With the upcoming election, this could be a great way to connect.

Follow for the rest of the series because Lindsay, Michelle and Aubrey will talk more about meaty issues and hot topics.

It’s important to get involved and share your own thoughts and opinions.

Don’t miss an opportunity to connect and join a conversation about the U.S. elections.

What do you think about the upcoming U.S. election?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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