Chapter 16, Section 3

 Learn about four ways candidates for office are nominated in the U.S. political system  Understand the differences between open and closed primary systems  Learn how candidates for President are decided

In the United States, the election process occurs in two steps: 1. Nomination, in which the field of candidates is narrowed 2. General election, the regularly scheduled election where voters make the final choice of officeholder

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. The top finisher for each party advances to general election.

 Although “blanket” primaries were ruled unconstitutional …  “Top two” primaries are allowed (so far)  All candidates are still placed on a single ballot  Candidates may designate their preferred party  Top 2 advance to the general election  Both may be members of the same party—this is the key difference from “blanket” primary

 Here is a visual illustration of partisan primaries vs. the “top 2” primary system

 Court upheld “top 2” ballot in Washington State against a “facial” constitutional challenge  Rejected claim that candidates’ designation of “preferred” party would be construed by voters as endorsement or nomination by that party  Noted that “voter confusion” might result from a top 2 system, but could not be evaluated except in an “as applied” challenge  Confusion can be addressed through disclaimers and educational campaigns

 Candidates must gather a required number of voters’ signatures to get on the ballot by means of petition.  Minor party and independent candidates are usually required by State law to be nominated by petition.  Petition is often used at the local level to nominate for school posts and municipal offices.

 The actual selection of “the ticket” (President/ VP candidates) is made at national conventions every four years  The platform is also adopted at the national convention  Delegates to the national convention are chosen through caucus/convention systems or through direct primaries  Great variation among states  Proportional vs. winner-take-all  Texas has a unique “two-step” process that combines both a primary and a caucus

Advantages: Far more democratic and fair than earlier methods Disadvantages: Complex—poorly understood; variation among states and parties Winner-take-all tends to truncate (shorten) the process—late primaries are often rendered irrelevant Emphasis on early races (Iowa caucuses; New Hampshire primary) sometimes makes it more of a “local/regional” process than a national one Expensive and time-consuming. Would a national primary be a good solution?