THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

 election process begins with the nomination of candidates which means the selection of one candidate from each of the 2 major parties  Nominations are important because it is essentially limiting the choices of voters since only one person from each party can be on the ballot for each position THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 candidates from the same party are competing against each other to convince the electorate to vote for them (nominate them) as the candidate from their party whose name should be on the ballot for the general election in November THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 Primaries serve as a way to nominate a candidate  - all primaries are direct primaries in which there is an election within each party to determine which of the many candidates running for various offices will get their name on the ballot in the general election THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 an open primary is when any registered voter can help elect the candidate for either of the major parties.  Voters must either ask for a specific party ballot or privately choose which party ballot they will mark, but cannot do both. THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 a closed primary is when only the registered voters of a political party can participate.  Some closed primaries deny non- affiliated voters (those who are Independents and do not belong to a party) to vote. THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 Benefits for closed primary-candidates forced to be loyal to party beliefs; opposing party can’t influence the primary  Drawbacks-Independents are excluded limiting the electorate; candidates ignore some groups & their concerns THE NOMINATION PROCESS

 presidential primaries are not used to directly nominate a candidate, but to allocate delegates to the National Convention who will then nominate the candidate  tend to be a much lower voter turnout compared to general election in November  can divide a party…look at negative, derogatory remarks between Trump, Cruz, and Rubio THE NOMINATION PROCESS

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 A. Facts  over 500,000 elected officials (officeholders) in the U.S.  Congressional elections are held every even-numbered year & the Presidency every four years THE GENERAL ELECTION

 most election laws are state laws with few federal laws  --Constitution establishes federal elections to be held the “first Tuesday after the first Monday”; most states follow this date as well  --regulates campaign finances  --expects secret ballots in all elections  --Help America Vote Act barred use of punchcard ballots after the difficulties in the 2000 election, computerize voter registration  THE GENERAL ELECTION

 B. What to do on day of general election?  -go to assigned polling place (location to vote), often a school, based on the precinct you live in. A precinct is a voting district (area) with registered voters  -cast your ballot (vote)  -can vote for candidates from the same political party: straight-ticket voting OR can vote from candidates from different parties: split-ticket voting THE GENERAL ELECTION

 if cannot go to polls on election day due to travelling or at college, then submit an absentee ballot by mail  ballots will feature candidates identified by their political parties. If there is a very strong candidate at the top of the ballot (running for President or Governor) then it can help lesser known candidates who belong to the same party. This is known as the coattail effect. THE GENERAL ELECTION

 US uses “Australian ballot”—government prints it, it lists candidates’ names, used only at the polls, marked by voter in secret—to provide for fair voting  on VA’s ballot all candidates are organized by office which is called the office group ballot  THE GENERAL ELECTION

 Show video: “US election – How do they work”