The Nominating Process

Nomination

Naming those that will seek office

Nominations are the real elections

One party constituencies, vote for one party or another.

Once the nominations are made there is no contest.

Nominations are made:

1) self-announcement

2) Caucus

3) Convention

4) Direct primary

5) Petition

Self- Announcement

• They simply say I’m running

• Arnold Schwarzenegger did this

• Ross Perot

Caucus

• Began in Boston in the 1720’s

• People get together and choose candidates they all approve of

• Legislators would get together in a central place and choose nominees.

• Many people thought

this was elitist and

unrepresentative

Convention

First one held by Anti-Masons 1831Whigs held one later that year. Democrats got on board the next year. Local caucuses meet, choose local nominees and delegates, THENCounty levelState LevelNational level

Direct Primary

• Nominees are put on a ballot

• Voters choose the candidates

• Michigan does this for governor, Congress and State Legislatures

Closed vs. Open Primaries

• Closed~ Only declared party members can vote

• Open~ Any voter can vote, but only one party

• Blanket~ Any voter can vote, for both

parties

Closed vs. Open PrimariesCritics of open:

Prevents one party from spoiling other’s

election process

Candidates are more responsive

Voters are more thoughtful

Critics of closed:

Compromises secrecy

Excludes independents

Run-off Primaries

• If no plurality is reached~ Runoff begins

• It’s pretty much a tie-breaker

The Nonpartisan Primary

Usually for nonpartisan elections

School board and municipal offices (Sheriff)

No one runs under a party name

Presidential Primary

• Starting in January

• Very Strict Rules

• Complex Process with dates set beforehand.