Unit 5: Elections US and VA Government

Nominating Candidates Topic 1

Direct Primary The winner is named the party’s nominee for the general election.

Closed Primary Only the members of a political party can vote in selecting the party’s candidates

Open Primary Any registered voter is allowed to participate by voting for a nominee of any party

Runoff Primary Voters choose between the top vote-getters from a previous election

Nonpartisan Primary All candidates appear on the same ballot

Candidates nominated in 5 ways: Self Announcement ____________________________________ Caucus Convention Petition Primary

Self Announcement declaration Individual makes a public __________ that he or she is a candidate Purpose: If _______ nomination is unlikely Does not _______ with party Example: ___________’92 Complicated procedure to get on the ballot ________ candidates declaration party agree Ross Perot Write-In

Caucus gathering Party Leaders 1840s Iowa A _____________ to select a nominee Originally done on a community-wide basis Gradually taken over by political parties _________________ began to abuse them Fell into disuse by ________ Still used in some states Most notably ________ Party Leaders 1840s Iowa

Convention Party _____ gathering to nominate candidate Composed of delegates representing _____ Abused by party leaders “smoke filled _______” Passed out of style by _______ state room 1970s

Petition Individual must get required # of _________ on a petition to be placed on the ballot Often used by independent & __________ candidates Democrats & Republicans make the requirements very _____ to discourage competition signatures third party strict

Primary Most ______ common Voters decide on party’s nominee in a primary _________ _______ determine rules _____ may vote ______ is it held What _______ may do Open vs. closed primary Became more common during _______ Primaries are staggered throughout ___________________ of election year election States Who When parties 1970s Winter and spring

Types of primaries Closed ________: only members of the party may vote in that party’s primary (minority) _____: any registered voter may vote in either party’s primary (majority) Virginia is an ______ primary state Open open

Primary Season fall frontrunner Iowa New Hampshire Tuesday Candidates begin to campaign the _____ before the election year It is very important to be successful early so as to win ____________ status Feb. 1st: ______ Caucus Feb. 9th: ________________ Primary Super __________: many large states hold their primaries on the first Tuesday in March _______________ has been criticized for defeating the purpose of primaries fall frontrunner Iowa New Hampshire Tuesday “Frontloading”

Voter Turnout 30% 50% Well-educated ideological In primary elections, it is typically ____ to ____ of a general election. Older, _______________, upper-income voters tend to participate. Those more __________ extreme voters also participate more. 30% 50% Well-educated ideological

Campaigns and Financing Topic 2

Campaigns in 1900s changed in 3 ways: _____________________________________ Candidates became more visible The role of the media is more important Polling has become a key tool

Candidate Visibility candidates William Jennings Bryan promotions During 1700s and early 1800s, ___________ were expected to maintain proper form during their campaigns by basically not even talking about it. In the late 1800s things begin to change; ______________________ went through a nationwide tour promoting his campaign for president. In early 1900s, candidates started appearing in ____________, touring the country (Truman’s _____________ campaign). Campaigning today consists of a ________, nonstop schedule of shaking hands, speaking, and constant travel. William Jennings Bryan promotions Whistle-stop grueling

Media Involvement Woodrow Wilson Dwight Eisenhower media social media _______________ used news reels and recordings when he ran for president in 1912. TV advertising started in 1952 when __________________ ran 30 and 60 second ads, similar to car and household goods commercials. Today most campaigns are conducted through the _______ simply because it is an easier method to connect with millions of people than in person. Many campaigns have taken advantage of _____________ to reach out to younger voters. Dwight Eisenhower media social media

Polling Campaigns pay special attention to ____________ to better direct their responsiveness. Many major campaigns have access to _______ polls, which are not generally released to the public. Public Opinion internal

How Campaigns are financed Party Assistance _________________: Candidate’s political party can donate funds and resources to help (usually prioritized). __________________________: gives funds to a campaign in the hopes that the candidate will help further that PAC’s agenda. ________________: People can contribute through “hard money” legally up to $2,700. ________________: Government can provide limited public funds from tax dollars. Most higher level candidates waive this option. ____________________: Many candidates are wealthy enough to fund their own campaign. Political Action Committee Private Donors Public Funding Personal Financing

Campaign Financing Reform Financial Disclosure ____________________: Campaigns have to submit reports explaining how much money they’ve received and how they are spending the money. ____________________: Private donors and PACs have limits to how much they can contribute and to who. Contributions to 527 groups are unlimited. __________________: Campaigns who accept public funds have set spending limits. This only applies to public funds! ___________________: Donations from corporations and labor unions have been ruled legal by the Supreme Court in 2010. Donations from a foreign source are still illegal. Contribution Limits Spending Limits Donor Restrictions

Elections and Voting Topic 3

Single-Member District Electoral districts in which only one candidate can win election to a particular office.

Secret Ballot Allows voters to choose candidates in private.

Absentee Ballot A ballot requested by a voter prior to Election Day.

Suffrage Right to vote.

Types of Elections General Election Special Election _________________: are usually single member voting districts, chosen from the slate of candidates. Candidate wins by plurality vote. _________________: Are sometimes called at the state or local level to make a decision by popular vote. Examples: Fill vacancy, recall official, tax increase, constitutional amendment Special Election

When Elections are held U.S. congressional elections are held on ______________ years on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. States set dates for state/local elections, usually coinciding with federal elections. Some states, like _______ set elections in odd-numbered years. even-numbered Virginia

How Elections are conducted Citizens go to their _______ polling site to vote. Usually overseen by election inspectors, several clerks, and volunteers. They verify information of voters and give them a ballot or show them to a voting _______. precinct machine

Origins of the Ballot System verbally Citizens used to voice their vote _______ at a public meeting. Then political parties printed their own ballots (which led to __________). Secret ballot started in _____. Absentee ballot: originally set up for military personnel. Mail Vote: A few states, like Oregon, receive ballots in the mail. corruption 1888

Sometimes, results have been challenged, ordering a ________. recount Contested Elections Sometimes, results have been challenged, ordering a ________. 2000 Florida 2016 Trump’s claims the system is “rigged” recount

Voting Requirements When constitution was ratified, a person had to own _______ and pay a poll tax in order to vote…which pretty much limited voting to few than 25% of all adult white males. Property requirements were dropped by _____. property 1843

Voting Requirements 15th Amendment “Jim Crow” Laws ________________: Passed in 1870, made it possible for adult black males could vote. ________________: Kept blacks from voting in the South up through the 1960s(!) “Jim Crow” Laws

Voting Requirements Women’s Suffrage ________________: Movement gained momentum after the Civil War. _______________: Made it possible for women to vote. 19th Amendment

Voting Requirements Today Age ____: 26th Amendment set the voting age at 18. _________: Non-citizens are not allowed to vote. Some states outlaws voting by convicted felons and mentally ill. Many states have imposed new laws saying you must have proper or photo identification. ___________: Must reside in voting district for at least 30 days. __________: Citizens fill out eligibility requirements. Some states require re-registering every few years. For most its when you move. Citizenship Residence Registration

Voting Behavior Party Identification Issues Candidate’s Record/Image _________________: Many will vote for “their party” regardless. Sometimes voter disregard. Reagan Democrats Republicans for Hillary ______: Certain “hot-topic” issues outweigh others (environment, health care, abortion, etc.) ________________________: Trust issues, past performance, personality, character. ___________: Voter’s political socialization. Issues Candidate’s Record/Image Registration

Campaigns and the Public Good Topic 4

Criticisms of Election Campaigns Advertising in Media ____________________: How much in-depth coverage can you possibly get from a 30 second sound-byte?! ______________________: Goes back to the time of Jefferson and Adams…is nothing new. No one admits to like it, but research shows it works. “Never on the job” Embarrassing information Contradictions on voting record Both of these have shown to lead to… _____________ Negative Campaigning NONVOTING

Other causes of Nonvoting Voter Alienation _________________: People feel powerless to change the system because of influence from interest groups and wealthy donations _____________________________: Some requirements may discourage people from voting. ID Requirements: Can affect disproportionately poor and elderly ________________________: Statistics show, the weaker the party, the weaker the turnout. Registration Requirements Weak Political Parties

Benefits of Campaigns Encouraging Debate __________________: People are more likely to discuss issues when some time is given to consider their side, opponents point of view… __________________: Candidates, their backgrounds, voting records, etc. Sometimes opposition research brings information a candidate may not want out. Providing Information