The Electoral Process

Magruder Chapter SevenMagruder Chapter Seven

The Nominating Process

The Importance of Nominations

The nominating process is important The nominating process is important because the United States has a strong two-because the United States has a strong two-party system, which means that there are party system, which means that there are usually only two viable candidates for any usually only two viable candidates for any officeoffice

There are five major ways in which There are five major ways in which nominations can be madenominations can be made

Self-Announcement

Self-announcement is the oldest form of the Self-announcement is the oldest form of the nominating processnominating process

It is often used by people running in small It is often used by people running in small towns or rural areastowns or rural areas

It is also used by people at higher levels It is also used by people at higher levels who fail to get their party’s nomination or who fail to get their party’s nomination or are unhappy with its choiceare unhappy with its choice

The Caucus

A caucus is a group of like-minded people A caucus is a group of like-minded people that meets to select the candidates it will that meets to select the candidates it will support in an upcoming electionsupport in an upcoming election

Early caucuses were private meetings made Early caucuses were private meetings made up of a few influential figuresup of a few influential figures

Caucuses are still used to make local Caucuses are still used to make local nominations in some areas, but they are nominations in some areas, but they are now open to all members of a partynow open to all members of a party

The Convention

Nominating conventions were first used in Nominating conventions were first used in the 1830s and quickly caught on as the only the 1830s and quickly caught on as the only way to select presidential candidatesway to select presidential candidates

In each local area, party members elect In each local area, party members elect delegates to represent them at county delegates to represent them at county conventions; county conventions elect conventions; county conventions elect delegates to State conventions;delegates to State conventions;

The Convention

State conventions elect delegates to the State conventions elect delegates to the national convention who select the party’s national convention who select the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nomineespresidential and vice-presidential nominees

The process was corrupted by party bosses The process was corrupted by party bosses and fell out of favor in the late 1800sand fell out of favor in the late 1800s

The Direct Primary

The direct primary is an election held The direct primary is an election held within a party to pick the party’s candidates within a party to pick the party’s candidates for the general electionfor the general election

The Closed Primary – in a closed primary The Closed Primary – in a closed primary only declared party members can vote to only declared party members can vote to decide which candidate the party will decide which candidate the party will supportsupport

The Direct Primary

The Open Primary – in an open primary any The Open Primary – in an open primary any qualified voter may vote to decide which qualified voter may vote to decide which candidate a party will supportcandidate a party will support

The Closed vs. the Open Primary – The Closed vs. the Open Primary – Americans make strong arguments for and Americans make strong arguments for and against both types of primaryagainst both types of primary

The Direct Primary

The Runoff Primary – in States that demand The Runoff Primary – in States that demand that the winning candidate of each party that the winning candidate of each party holds an absolute majority of that party’s holds an absolute majority of that party’s votes, runoff primaries are held in which votes, runoff primaries are held in which voters must choose between the two top voters must choose between the two top vote-gettersvote-getters

The Direct Primary The Nonpartisan Primary – most school and The Nonpartisan Primary – most school and

municipal officials and, often, State judges, municipal officials and, often, State judges, are chosen from ballots that do not identify are chosen from ballots that do not identify candidates by party affiliationcandidates by party affiliation

Evaluation of the Primary – Primaries are Evaluation of the Primary – Primaries are costly and divisive and many voters neither costly and divisive and many voters neither recognize their importance nor inform recognize their importance nor inform themselves sufficiently to make wise themselves sufficiently to make wise choiceschoices

The Direct Primary

The Presidential Primary – in these The Presidential Primary – in these elections, voters declare their preference for elections, voters declare their preference for a particular candidate and/or elect delegates a particular candidate and/or elect delegates to a party’s national conventionto a party’s national convention

Nomination by Petition

At the local level, this process is commonly At the local level, this process is commonly used for nonpartisan postsused for nonpartisan posts

In some States, election laws require that In some States, election laws require that minor-party or independent candidates get a minor-party or independent candidates get a certain number of signatures before they are certain number of signatures before they are put on the ballotput on the ballot

Elections

The Administration of Elections

The Extent of Federal ControlThe Extent of Federal Control Most election law is State lawMost election law is State law Congress sets the time, place, and manner Congress sets the time, place, and manner

of congressional electionsof congressional elections It has also passed laws designed to protect It has also passed laws designed to protect

the right to vote and prevent election fraudthe right to vote and prevent election fraud

The Administration of Elections

When Elections are HeldWhen Elections are Held Most States hold elections for State offices Most States hold elections for State offices

in November of every even-numbered yearin November of every even-numbered year Some States hold certain elections at other Some States hold certain elections at other

times, usually in the springtimes, usually in the spring

The Administration of Elections

The Coattail EffectThe Coattail Effect A popular candidates at the top of the ticket A popular candidates at the top of the ticket

helps other candidates form the same partyhelps other candidates form the same party Some argue that State and local elections Some argue that State and local elections

should be held at different times than should be held at different times than presidential elections in order to lessen this presidential elections in order to lessen this “coattail effect”“coattail effect”

Precincts and Polling Places

State law restricts the population size of State law restricts the population size of voting districts, or precinctsvoting districts, or precincts

Precinct election boards ensure that Precinct election boards ensure that elections are held in an orderly manner, and elections are held in an orderly manner, and each political party sends poll watchers to each political party sends poll watchers to watch for election fraudwatch for election fraud

The Ballot

The Australian Ballot – this secret ballot, The Australian Ballot – this secret ballot, printed at public expense and given out only printed at public expense and given out only at polling places, was a reform introduced at polling places, was a reform introduced in the late 1800sin the late 1800s

The Office-Group Ballot – this form of the The Office-Group Ballot – this form of the Australian ballot groups candidates for each Australian ballot groups candidates for each office togetheroffice together

The Ballot

The Party-Column Ballot – this form of the The Party-Column Ballot – this form of the Australian ballot lists each party’s Australian ballot lists each party’s candidates in a column under the party’s candidates in a column under the party’s namename

Sample Ballots – clearly marked sample Sample Ballots – clearly marked sample ballots are mailed to voters in many States ballots are mailed to voters in many States and appear in newspapers to help the voters and appear in newspapers to help the voters prepare for an electionprepare for an election

The Ballot

The Long and Short of It – traditionally, The Long and Short of It – traditionally, Americans prefer to elect, rather than Americans prefer to elect, rather than appoint, large numbers of local officials on appoint, large numbers of local officials on the theory that the greater the number of the theory that the greater the number of elected officials, the more democratic the elected officials, the more democratic the governmentgovernment

Voting Machines and Innovations

Invented by Thomas Edison, voting Invented by Thomas Edison, voting machines were first used in 1892machines were first used in 1892

Electronic Vote Counting – Electronic data Electronic Vote Counting – Electronic data processing techniques are now in use in processing techniques are now in use in many Statesmany States

Vote-by-Mail elections – mail-in ballots are Vote-by-Mail elections – mail-in ballots are allowed in some local elections, and on at allowed in some local elections, and on at least one occasion, in elections for national least one occasion, in elections for national office as welloffice as well

Money and the Election Process

Campaign Spending Amounts

Observers estimate that about $750 million Observers estimate that about $750 million was spent on the 1996 presidential electionwas spent on the 1996 presidential election

Money is used for many purposes – staff Money is used for many purposes – staff and office costs, polling, television time, and office costs, polling, television time, and so forthand so forth

Sources of Campaign Funding

Private Givers – the candidates themselves, Private Givers – the candidates themselves, individual citizens, PACs, and temporary individual citizens, PACs, and temporary campaign organizations all contribute campaign organizations all contribute money to political campaignsmoney to political campaigns

Why People Give – Some give to support Why People Give – Some give to support candidates and policies they believe in; candidates and policies they believe in; others want access to government in return others want access to government in return for their financial supportfor their financial support

Regulating Campaign Finance

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) – The Federal Election Commission (FEC) – the FEC is an independent agency whose the FEC is an independent agency whose members set limits on campaign members set limits on campaign contributions and spending, require prompt contributions and spending, require prompt disclosure of campaign finance data, and disclosure of campaign finance data, and administer public funds for part of the administer public funds for part of the presidential election processpresidential election process

Regulating Campaign Finance

Disclosure Requirements – Strict laws govern Disclosure Requirements – Strict laws govern who can contribute to political campaigns, who can contribute to political campaigns, how much each person can give, and how how much each person can give, and how campaign funds may be spentcampaign funds may be spent

The Role of PACs – PACs, which have grown The Role of PACs – PACs, which have grown rapidly in recent years, may contribute up to rapidly in recent years, may contribute up to $5,000 to any presidential candidate$5,000 to any presidential candidate

Regulating Campaign Finance Limits on Contributions – Federal law Limits on Contributions – Federal law

limits contributions by individuals, unions, limits contributions by individuals, unions, national banks, and corporationsnational banks, and corporations

Limits on Expenditures – Federal law limits Limits on Expenditures – Federal law limits spending in presidential campaignsspending in presidential campaigns

Public Funding of Presidential Campaigns – Public Funding of Presidential Campaigns – Monies for public funding of campaigns are Monies for public funding of campaigns are contributed by individual citizens at contributed by individual citizens at income-tax timeincome-tax time

Regulating Campaign Finance Preconvention Period – The FEC provides Preconvention Period – The FEC provides

public funds to candidates by matching public funds to candidates by matching private, individual contributionsprivate, individual contributions

National Conventions – Each party National Conventions – Each party automatically receives a grant of public automatically receives a grant of public funds to pay for its national conventionfunds to pay for its national convention

Presidential Campaigns – Major-Party Presidential Campaigns – Major-Party nominees automatically qualify for a public nominees automatically qualify for a public subsidy to cover campaign costssubsidy to cover campaign costs