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The Electoral Process

The Electoral Process. “Any American who cannot bother to vote and who thinks that a single vote does not matter is letting America down” Marian Wright Edelman (1992) Founder of the Children’s Defence Fund. The Nominating Process “The FIRST STEP in the Election Process”.

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The Electoral Process

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  1. The Electoral Process “Any American who cannot bother to vote and who thinks that a single vote does not matter is letting America down” Marian Wright Edelman (1992) Founder of the Children’s Defence Fund

  2. The Nominating Process“The FIRST STEP in the Election Process” • The nominating process is the process of candidate selection. • Importance of Nominations in the Two -Party System = Two High Quality Candidates for the General Election • Nominations narrow the field of candidates in the general election.

  3. Five Ways to Nominate Candidates • Number 1: The Self-Announcement • The oldest form, it is still used at the local government level. • Candidates simply announce that they wish to run a particular office. • Now it is used at the national level by those running as independents or by those candidates waging a write-in campaign http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/perot.JPG

  4. Number 2: The Caucus • A group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election. • Originally just a small number of influential party members who met in smoke-filled rooms. • Popularity at the national level declined after the election of 1824. • Still used today at the local level, local caucuses are used to pick delegates to the State conventions. • The Caucus has largely been replaced by primaries. The Iowa Caucus The Caucus “Step by Step”

  5. Number 3: The Convention • Local party members pick delegates to county conventions who pick delegates to State conventions who pick delegates to the National convention. • All parties have used conventions since 1832. • The convention process did not work perfectly - party bosses soon took control in most states (Gilded Age). • Connecticut, Michigan, Virginia, South Dakota and Utah (convention states)

  6. Number 4: The Direct Primary Who can vote in a party’s primary – only qualified voters who are party members OR any qualified voter? • The closed primary (members only) – only declared party members can vote. It is designed to build party loyalty and prevent voters from crossing over to nominate a weaker candidate • The open primary (pick a party) – any qualified voter can participate. It is designed to let independents participate • Missourians don’t register by party, but must choose one party’s ballot when voting in the primary, or choose to vote an "issues only" ballot (which will not include ANY candidates). Based on the statement - Missouri uses a closed Primary. True or False

  7. Number 5: The Petition • Candidates need to get a certain number of qualified voters in an election district to sign a petition in order to get on the ballot. • It is most commonly used at the local level. • It is also commonly the method required by law for minor party candidates to get on the ballot in larger races.

  8. Review 1. The most common nominating method today is • Self-nomination • Direct Primary • Convention • Petition • Caucus 2. In order to vote in a closed primary in most states you must a. be a registered voter. b. be a registered party member. c. be an active participant in party politics. d. a and b e. b and c

  9. Elections • Election Process mostly regulated by state law (federal government sets dates for elections) • Most ballots are cast at polling places (precincts). Absentee voting, early voting, and vote-by-mail are becoming more common. (People feel polling places are the most secure form of voting.) • Australian Ballot (party-column or office-group) • Electronic voting and/or vote counting devices are replacing lever operated machines and punch-card ballots.

  10. The Australian Ballot B A Ballot B is an example of an “office-group” type ballot? True/False

  11. Money and Elections “The Power of the Pocket Book” • Money plays an important role in politics but challenges the democratic process • Most campaign money comes from private sources, including PACs (political • action committees) • -The Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers federal campaign laws • -Loopholes in campaign finance laws allow candidates and contributors to evade • some regulations • Can non-citizens contribute to U.S. candidates campaign fund? Yes or No

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