Grade 8 · Social Studies

8th grade How elections work, and how the Electoral College chooses a president worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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How elections work, and how the Electoral College chooses a president

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.
In Ari's flow chart, which step comes first?
- Primaries and caucuses
- The electors' votes
- The general election in November
- Congress's count
2.
When is the general election, Bo asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
- Early September, when the national conventions meet
- January 20 of the next year
- January 6, when Congress meets
3.
In a closed primary, who can vote, Esme asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Members of Congress
- Any voter in the state, in any party or in no party
- Voters registered with that party
- The electors from December
4.
What do the national conventions do, Kira asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Hold the general election
- Count the electoral votes
- Each party chooses its candidate
- Swear in the new President on January 20
5.
When does Congress count the electoral votes, Luz asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- January 20
- January 6
- In November
- In December
6.
Where do the electors cast their votes, Noah asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- In their own states
- At the Supreme Court
- In the House chamber
- At the national conventions
7.
By the arrows, what decides which party's electors are appointed, Pia asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- The state's popular vote in November
- Congress's count in January
- The delegates at the conventions
- The President's own choice
8.
Why are primaries held before the conventions, Ren asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- They award the delegates
- They swear in the President
- They replace the general election
- They count the electoral votes
9.
Which step comes right after the general election, Tala asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- The inauguration on January 20
- The national conventions
- The electors meet and vote
- Primaries and caucuses
10.
How often is a presidential election held, Zee asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Every six years
- Each year
- Every two years
- Every four years

8th grade How elections work, and how the Electoral College chooses a president worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

How elections work, and how the Electoral College chooses a president. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can follow the steps of a presidential election, from primaries to the count in Congress, and tell open from closed primaries.
I can explain how a state's electors come from its House seats and senators, using the 2020 Census counts.
I can read the 1800 and 1824 results and explain why the House chose the President, using the 12th Amendment.

Standard: D2.Civ.2.6-8 (partial)

Common mistakes

Your child read a different box. Find the box the question names first.

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Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with how elections work, and how the electoral college chooses a president?

Your child read a different box. Find the box the question names first.

Are these 8th grade social studies worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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