THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Local, State, National

The nomination process-two party system Self-announcement

Individuals that state they are running for a particular office○ Example upcoming presidential election, prominent

democrats will “announce” that they are running for office of president– maybe Hillary Clinton

Caucus-started during colonial times Group of similarly minded people that meet to select the

candidates that they will support in upcoming election○ Legislative caucus- a meeting of a party’s members in the

State legislature○ Ended by 1824 (King Caucus-derogatory tag given to the use

of caucus by the party—Andrew Jackson

Convention replaces caucus Convention

First convention held in 1831- replaced by direct primary in 1910’s (Progressive era)

How it works○ Party’s members meet in a local caucus to pick candidates for

local office, at same time select delegates to represent them at county convention

Nominees selected for local representatives, mayor, sheriff

○ At county convention delegates nomination candidates for state conventionCounty offices, supervisor, county tax collector

○ At state convention delegates sent to national conventionParty nominates candidate for governor, and other state

offices○ At national convention

Delegates select their choice for president and vice president

Nomination process (cont) Direct primary

An intra-party election –so Democrats and Republicans both hold one

Held within a party to select that party’s candidates for the general election

Most State law requires major party US primary to choose their candidates for US Senate and House of Reps.

Types of Primaries Primaries (an election that narrows the field of

candidates before a general election)Closed (24 states follow this today)

○ Only those who register in advance can vote for party nominees--- encourages party loyalty

Open (26 states use this)○ Voters (on ELECTION DAY) can decide whether they want the

Democratic or Republican candidateBlanket (up to 2000, 3 states used this –declared

unconstitutional in CA-violation of 1st and 14th amendments)○ The most “anti”party of all primaries○ Voters get a list of candidates from all parties and are allowed to

pick some Democrats, some Republicans, some minor parties

Non-partisan elections

School boards Municipal offices ½ state judges All still have to participate in a non-

partisan primary the candidate with clear majority either runs

as unopposed in general election or is declared the winner (elected)

Presidential primary and petition Presidential primary

Not a nominating device An election that is held as part of process by which presidential

candidates are chosen○ Winners of state primaries decide their proportional representation by

delegate/most states are NOT winner take all in presidential primary○ each state sends their delegates to each party’s national convention

to choose their presidential candidate○ national convention roll call vote

Petition Used most often at local level

○ Nonpartisan school board positions, municipal offices of medium sized cities

Nominations occur by petition ○ State to state, specific number of qualified voters

Elections

Federal control Election Day Early Voting Precincts/Polling Places The Ballot Automated voting Electronic counting Vote-by-mail elections Online voting

Money and Elections