UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
Nominating a Candidate
-There are four ways to nominate candidates:
1. Caucus
2. Conventions
3. Direct Primary
4. Petition
-Depending on the office being sought, the
nominating process can vary
Caucus
-In early American politics, party leaders met
to decide who would run for office
Page 1
-Many people complained their voices were
not heard and that this was undemocratic
UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
Page 2
Nominating Conventions
-Nominating convention (public meetings of
party members) started becoming popular
-They gathered to choose a candidate—or
delegates to vote for candidates (if the
election was not local)
-In many areas, party leaders, or party bosses,
chose delegates—these nominating
conventions became just as undemocratic
Primary Elections
-Most states use direct primary elections to
select candidates today
-In these elections, candidates from the same
party campaign against one another
UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
Page 3
(continued)
-Voters cast their ballot to determine which
candidate will represent the party in the
general election
-Closed primaries allow only registered
members of the party to vote
-Open primaries allow any registered voter to
cast a ballot
Iowa Caucus Results 2008 (January 3rd)
Republicans
Democrats
Florida Primary Results 2008 (January 29th)
Republicans
Democrats
Wisconsin Primary Results 2008 (February 19th)
Republicans
Democrats
UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
Page 3
(continued)
-Voters cast their ballot to determine which
candidate will represent the party in the
general election
-Closed primaries allow only registered
members of the party to vote
-Open primaries allow any registered voter to
cast a ballot
Presidential Nominees
-In presidential primaries, voters vote for
delegates, not candidates
-Those delegates then go to the national
convention to cast ballots for a candidate
-Republicans generally use a winner-take-all
primary when awarding delegates
UNIT #6
Taking Part in
Government
CHAPTER #16
Elections, Voting and
Voter Behavior
LESSON #1
Nominating
Candidates
Page 4
(continued)
-Democrats use proportional representation
primary—dividing delegates according to
vote totals—when awarding delegates
Petition
-This is a paper that states a person’s wish to
run for a particular office
-A certain number of potential voters must
sign the petition