Ch 7
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
THE NOMINATION PROCESS

Prior to the general elections, we tend to go
through a nomination process to determine
who should be on the ballot

We have previously discussed that this is one
of the functions of political parties
NOMINATION METHODS

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
There are five methods in which nomination
can occur in the United States:
Self-Announcement
Caucus
Convention
Direct Primary
Petition
SELF ANNOUNCEMENT

As it sounds, candidates simply announce to
the constituency their intent to run for office.

It may occur when a candidate fails to get a
party nomination

Write-ins are also a form of self announcement
THE CAUCUS

A group of like-minded individuals come together to
discuss who they think should run.

This was really the first method used in our country.

However will lose popularity and were for a time known
as the “King Caucus” as few have say in determining the
outcome.

Iowa still uses this method (because we are awesome)
THE CONVENTION

Similar to the caucus at the local level, delegates
are selected to represent at a county meeting,
which in turns elects delegates to the State…

However, political machines started to manipulate
the system in the late 1800s (I.E. Cook County, IL)

We still use a convention in Presidential contests
DIRECT PRIMARY

Simply put, its an inter-party election. The party picks its
candidate in a similar process to the general election.

There are two types of the direct primary:
Closed (only party members get to vote)
Open (any voter can participate)
1)
2)
*A blanket primary exists in which you get all candidates
and you get to vote for one (not widely used)
OTHER PRIMARY OPTIONS

A runoff primary- where plurality isn’t good
enough, a majority is needed. If a majority isn't
achieved the top two vote-getters go again a
few weeks later.

Nonpartisan primary- no party affiliation is tied
to candidates. This tends to be used in local
matters for local offices. (but does that mean
politics isn’t involved?)
PETITION

Get enough signatures and you are on the
ballot!

Again more often found on more of a local
level. Some state issues however require this
as well.
ELECTIONS

1)
2)
3)
4)
There are a number of federal requirements for
elections to know:
Congressional elections are always held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday of November on even
years. Same for Presidential contests, however they are
every four years.
Secret ballots must be used. (Why?)
Voting machines may be used, but are not required
(but cant used lever operated punch machines
anymore- no hanging chads please!)(See Presidential
race of 2000)
Voter registration is required to prevent fraud
ELECTION DAY AND VOTING

Votes can occur any days of the week, but tend
to avoid the weekends and the beginning/end
of the month.

You can vote early due to Absentee voting.
Originally intended to help those who couldn’t
make it to the polls, it now has been expanded
to make it easier to vote when you can.
OTHER VOCABULARY

Coattail Effect- strong or highly visible
candidates help lower office candidates get
elected due to party affiliation.

Precinct- a voting district

Polling place- where you vote
BALLOTS

A ballot is the form in which you vote.

They started as an unofficial method of stating your vote.
Parties/political machines would print them and hand them out (Vote
early and often!)

Legislation now stipulates we have secret ballots. We now use a form
of the Australian Ballot

The Australian Ballot has four features:
Printed at publics expense
All candidates are listed (pending they meet nomination threshold)
Given out at polls, only one to each voter
Secret
1)
2)
3)
4)
AUTOMATED VOTING

Various methods are used across the country.

Most often you will be given a ballot and it will
be processed using high speed counters.

Is it trustworthy and reliable? (Hacking
Democracy by HBO)