VOTING AND
ELECTIONS
(PART 2)
POLITICAL PARTIES

Two major parties today

Democrats vs. Republicans
Nothing is mentioned about political
parties in the Constitution
 Democrats and Republicans have the same
fundamental belief in our Constitution
 Democrats and Republicans differ mainly on how large
or small the role of government should be

POLITICAL PARTIES - DEMOCRATS
- Large Government
- EQUALITY
POLITICAL PARTIES - REPUBLICANS
- Small Government
- COMPETITION
POLITICAL PARTIES – THIRD PARTIES
lower
higher
businesses
jobs
more
less
support
equality
more
wider
restrict
growth
less
narrower
Favors
Opposes
public
conservation
stronger
private
usage
weaker
POLITICAL SPECTRUM
???
THIRD PARTIES

Third parties often face difficulties




May be more difficult to get on the ballot in certain states
Some people may feel as if voting for a third party would
“waste” their vote
Third parties can have difficulty raising money
Third party influence
Third parties often rally around one or two specific ideas
 Can raise awareness on an issue being ignored by the
major parties
 Can swing an election by “stealing” votes from a major
candidate

1992
2000
CHANGES IN PARTY STRENGTH

Three elements help continue the influence of
political parties

Patronage
System in which party leaders perform favors for loyal
supporters of the party
 Ex: Dan Rooney

Campaigning
 Voter loyalty

Straight ticket – When a voter votes for all of the
candidates from a specific party
 Split ticket – voting for candidates from more than one
party on the same ballot
 ex: Republican for Governor, Democrat for Senator

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Nomination
Self-Nomination is possible for many local offices
 Often requires a filing fee to get on the ballot
 Can bypass this by starting a write-in campaign
 Many larger offices require a nominating petition to
get your name on the ballot


Primary Election vs. Caucus
Primary Election – people cast ballots for their
preferred candidate
 Caucus – party members meet to discuss and choose
candidates

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Closed Primary
Voters must be registered with a party and may only vote in
races between members of their party
 Example: Registered republicans may NOT vote in
Democratic Primaries



Open Primary

Voters don’t have to be registered with a party, and CAN
vote in any party’s primary


Ex: Registered independent CAN vote in republican primary,
registered republican CAN vote in democratic primary
Voters can only vote in ONE primary race


Why? – Sabotage!
Ex: Voter CANNOT vote in BOTH republican and democratic
primary
Fred Tuttle – Vermont
o Candidates attempt to secure
delegates from each state
• Similar to electors in
Presidential elections
o Delegates cast their votes at the
Party’s National Convention