ElectionsElections

I. The Nominating Process

Before a candidate can be put on the ballot for the General Election (regularly scheduled election where voters make final decision on officeholders) they must first be nominated (naming those that are seeking office). There are four ways to be nominated

1. Direct Primary2. Caucuses3. Petition4. Self-Announcement

1. Direct Primary

Political parties use direct primaries to narrow down the choices in both state and federal elections within their own party

The parties candidate is DIRECTLY chosen by the people rather than nominated by a delegate

a. Closed Primary -Only registered party members can vote in the primary (26 states use this)

b. Open Primary- Any registered voter can pick one party primary to vote in (only 16 states + DC use this)

c. Blanket Primary -Any registered voter can participate in more than one primary (declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court)

d. Runoff Primary - If there is no clear majority winner the top two vote getters will face off in a runoff primary

e. Nonpartisan Primary- Candidates party affiliation is not put on the ballot (usually state elections for school, muncipal, and judicial offices)

• Some parties hold meetings before an election to chose a candidate.

• The local private meetings are called caucuses, a group of like minded people who meet to select the candidate they will support in the next election

2. Caucus

Conventions• The larger county, state and national meetings

with elected delegates are called conventions (more democratic).

• Local party members meet at a caucus to choose delegates to represent them at the state convention

• At the state convention, delegates are chosen to go to the national convention

• Delegates at the national convention select the party presidential and vice presidential candidate

3. Petition - At the local level candidates are sometimes nominated by a certain number of qualified voter signatures

4. Self Announcement- Smaller parties and independent candidates may only need to submit their name to be placed on the general elections ballot

II. Presidential ElectionsStep #1 Delegates

The party picks delegates to represent their candidate in the National Convention through local Caucuses & Conventions or through Presidential Primaries

Presidential primaries can be open or closed

Presidential Elections

Step #2 National Convention

The delegates go to the National Convention where they nominate their parties candidate for the general election

Presidential Elections

Step #3 General Election

Registered voters cast a vote for a candidate in the General Election. The candidate with the greater number of votes usually wins all the electors for that state

Presidential Elections

Step #4 Electoral College• The electors vote at the Electoral College for

their candidate. • There are 538 total electors

(100 Senators + 435 HOR +3 DC)• The number of electors per state is based on the

total number of Congressmen in that state. CA has 55 electors (2 Senators + 53 HOR)

• A candidate needs a majority of the electors, 270 to win the election