The Electoral Process CP Government Chapter 7

5 ways to Nominate Self Announcement Caucus Convention Direct Primary Petition

Self Announcement You say you are running Has to be paired with another type today For President goes w/ fundraising For state/local goes w/petition National—Major parties get 1 spot reserved and petition

Petition Need registered voter signatures Works on a % Used mostly on local and county offices/elections Some state offices/elections Also used for initiatives

Caucus Used from 1800-1830’s Very little use today Groups of leaders choose candidates (not very democratic) Corruption

Convention 1840’s-today (for Pres. especially) Use caucuses for local candidates Local caucus elect representatives to go to a county convention to select candidates

Convention cont. County convention elected delegates to state convention State convention selects candidates for office and delegates for national convention Party Bosses were unintentionally created--corruption

Direct Primaries 1900-today Registered votes in a party elect candidates in their party ONLY Largest form of nomination used today Combined with convention in some states

Types of Direct Primaries Closed Open Blanket Runoff Nonpartisan

Closed 24 states (Ohio) Only declared voters can vote Only vote for YOUR party Your party affiliation is based on a previous election Straight ticket voting

Open 26 states use it Any registered voter can participate Can choose either party that day Straight ticket voting

Open vs. Closed Open Allows more freedom to change a party Allows for independents Closed Stops “raiding” Candidates follow party more Makes voters choose a party (loyalty)

Blanket A few states Can vote for BOTH parties in primary Allows for split ticket voting

Nonpartisan Candidates do not use a party affiliation Used mostly in local elections

Runoff Used only if a majority of votes are needed instead of a plurality Used in 10 states (not Ohio)

Elections Run by states and the national government Help America Vote Act 2002 New machines --Worker training Computerized voting registration Better voter ID systems Allow more provisional ballots

Election Day The 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November. Even-numbered years Vote at polling place within a Precinct

Ballots Australian • Absentee Office Group (Massachusetts) Party Group (Indiana) Voting by mail, Internet are options in a few states

MONEY US government has put limits on contributions 2012=$3 billion total What is it spent on?

Money comes from… Small contributions ($5-$10) Large contributions—wealthy Candidates themselves PAC’s 527’s—temporary corporations The government

Why give? Favors Like the candidate Strong party ID Like the issue Feel connected to the community Know the candidate Don’t like the opposing person/issue

Laws/Limits Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the laws $5,200 to a candidate in 1 cycle $5,000 to a PAC in 1 year $32,400 to a political party

Laws continued Disclosure Have to have a CPA on staff No foreign contributions $250 magic number—must account for all expenses/receipts

Government Funding For Presidential candidates $3.00 on tax return Match up to $250 from a contribution ($19 million limit in primaries) $14.6 million for convention(each party) $74.6 million for general election

Presidential Fundraising To get matching funds Must raise $100,000 In 20 states ($5,000 per state) Maximum donations of $250

Hard and Soft Money Hard=given to candidates by individuals (can be traced) Soft=given by parties or PAC’s Hard regulated by FEC BCRA 2002 to try to regulate soft “I endorse this message”