 A nomination is the naming of a candidate who will
seek office
 The nomination is the most important stage because it
sets limits to the choices a voter can make
Ways to nominate…
 Self-announcement

The oldest form, often
used by people who fail
to get a regular party
nomination, or by
someone who is
unhappy with a party’s
choice
Ways to nominate…
 Caucus - A group of like-
minded people meet to
select a candidate. Used
to be practical because
transportation and
communication were
difficult. Caucuses were
replaced by the
convention method
because they limited the
participation of party
members
Ways to nominate…
 The convention
 Delegates select candidates
 Direct Primary
 The most widely used method of making nominations.
Intraparty nominating election where those who can vote
choose a party’s candidate to run in a general election
 Closed Primary
 Only declared party members can vote
 Open Primary
 Any qualified voter can vote, they choose which party they
will vote on at the polls
Ways to nominate…
 Run-off Primary
 Takes place when no candidate has a majority of votes in
some states
 Nomination by petition
 candidates are nominated by a petition signed by a
certain number of qualified voters, usually done in local
elections
Elections
 Presidential elections are held
on the first Tuesday following
the first Monday in
November, every four years
 The Constitution gives
Congress the power to set the
date for holding
congressional elections
 The coattail effect occurs
when a strong party
candidate draws votes to the
party ticket
Precincts and Polling Places
 A precinct is a voting district, a geographical unit, each
has only one polling place, and in most states, the polls
are open from 7am-8pm. The most basic unit for
holding an election
The Ballot
 the ballot is a device by
which voters register a
choice in and election.
Each state provides a
secret ballot
 We use the Australian
Ballot – printed at public
expense, lists all
candidates in an election,
given out only at the polls
and is voted in secret
Types of Ballots
 Office-group ballot
 Candidates are always listed by position
 Party –column ballot
 Lists candidates under a party column. Encourages
“straight-ticket” voting (voting for all candidates of a
party)
MONEY AND THE ELECTION
PROCESS
 2000 – presidential campaigns
spent about $607 million
 Congressional campaigns spent
about $ 1 billion
 avg. winning senator - $7.5 M
 avg. representative-$849,000
 Most campaign monies come from
private contributors
 Small contributors - $5-$10
occasionally
 Wealthy persons who make large
donations
 Candidates and their families
 Political Action Committees
(PACs)

Nonparty political groups who work
to affect public policy
MONEY AND THE ELECTION
PROCESS
 Laws limit a person’s total contribution to federal
candidates and PACs to $25,000/yr
 A lot of people give money because they support a
candidate, but most give because they want something
in return
 Some want appointments to public office, others social
recognition, some want the “ear” of the elected official
 There are very strict election laws limiting campaigns.
This maintains honest and free elections
MONEY AND THE ELECTION
PROCESS
 Campaign money is spent on a variety of things
 Travel and entertainment
 Pamphlets and posters
 Newspaper and magazine ads
 Television appearances (this is the most expensive)