Chapter 7 Elections

NOMINATIONS – THE FIRST STEP

Before the election can take place, candidates must be nominated

Nomination – the naming of candidates who will seek office

After candidates are nominated, the general election is held

NOMINATING AND ELECTING A CANDIDATE

SELF-ANNOUNCEMENTThe candidate simply makes an announcement of his/her intention to seek public office (could have a friend do it, too)

CONVENTION

Public meeting of party activists to energize voters and choose a party candidate

CONVENTION

Now only used by minor parties (like the Libertarian Party shown below)

CAUCUS

1800s - originally a private meeting of party leaders – no records kept or journalists allowed

The appearance of corruption led to reforms

CAUCUS

Now - a public meeting of any party members who wish to participate and debate

PRIMARYA public election held within a political party to choose the party’s nominee for office Open Primary – any eligible voters

may vote Closed Primary – only registered

party members may vote in their party’s primary

Most common method in states today

THE DIRECT PRIMARY

Nonpartisan Primary

Candidates are not identified by party labels

Runoff Primary

If a required majority is not met, the two people with the most votes run again

Closed Primary

Only declared party members can vote.

Types of Direct Primaries

Open Primary

Any qualified voter can take part.

Blanket Primary

Qualified voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party

PRIMARIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

PRECINCTS AND POLLING PLACES

Precincts A precinct is a voting

district. Precincts are the

smallest geographic units used to carry out elections.

A precinct election board supervises the voting process in each precinct.

Polling Places A polling place is

where the voters who live in a precinct go to vote.

It is located in or near each precinct. Polling places are supposed to be located conveniently for voters.

OFFICE-GROUP AND PARTY-COLUMN BALLOTS

VOTING MACHINES AND INNOVATIONS

Electronic vote counting has been in use since the 1960s. Punch-card ballots are often used to cast votes.

Vote-by-mail elections have come into use in recent years.

Online voting is a trend that may be encountered in the near future.

IN CASE YOU CARE

ELECTIONMake a primary ballot out of a half-sheet of paper

On your ballot, write down your choice for president of Sesame Street

And now, announcing your candidates…

CHOOSE YOUR CANDIDATE