[ 10.4 ] The Voting Process

Congressional Elections Held every two years on even-numbered years Mid-Term Elections aka Off-Year Elections held between presidential elections Low voter turnout Incumbents - currently holding office Generally win elections due to low voter turn out, success in office, or good campaigning, duck responsiblity Coattail Effect Weak or less known candidates win based on success of popular presidential candidate through party affiliation NO FEDERAL FUNDING

Presidential Elections Held every four years—more competitive Two major parties receive federal funding in general election Phases of Presidential Candidacy: Getting mentioned Primaries and Caucuses Nominating Conventions General Election Electoral College

Filling Elected Public Offices A young Hawaiian voter signs in at the polls. In Hawaii, teens can preregister to vote at age 16, but they must be 18 by election day to actually vote.

Filling Elected Public Offices

Filling Elected Public Offices

Precincts, Polling Places, and Ballots

Casting and Counting Ballots

Quiz: Precincts, Polling Places, and Ballots The selection of a polling place should focus most significantly on A. size. B. location. C. facilities. D. cost.

Quiz: Casting and Counting Ballots What basic right could be undermined as a result of online-only voting? A. freedom of assembly B. freedom of speech C. equality under the law D. universal suffrage

National Convention Held every 4 years during the late summer of the Presidential election year (AUG or SEP) Each state sends a number of delegates to represent their state at the convention Delegates nominates the party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates (Primary Purpose) Primaries “weed out” most candidates and generally one is left for the national convention Adopts the parties rules and writes the party’s platform Seen today as a major televised campaign advertisement for the party along with a celebration and festival

RNC (Republican National Convention)

DNC (Democratic National Convention)

National Committee Lead by the National Chairman and comprised of delegates from all the states Tries to strengthen the party by raising money, recruiting new voters, and supporting party members in other offices Runs campaigns

National Chairperson Official leader of the party’s National Committee Chosen for a 4-year term by the President or Presidential Nominee and ratified by the national committee

RNC Chairperson: Reince Priebus (2016) DNC Chairperson (interim): Donna Brazile (2016)

Primary Elections Primary election: an election in which people select party members to run in the general election There are two types: 1. Closed: only members of a political party can vote 2. Open: all voters may participate

National Conventions Occur every 4 yrs. Ticket: candidates for President and Vice President Purpose is to bring the party back together

National Convention Platform: a statement of the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues Plank: individual parts of the platform

National Party Functions This aerial view of the 2012 Republican National Convention shows the festivity and crowd reaction as nominee Mitt Romney accepted the Republican presidential nomination.

State and Local Party Functions Local party organization can vary from State to State, but this chart shows a common example. Analyze Charts What is the difference between a ward and a precinct?

Three Ways to Nominate

Competing for Delegates The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Nomination game is an elimination contest Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention, or the supreme power within each of the parties The convention meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and vice- presidential candidates. Conventions are but a formality today.

Competing for Delegates The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates The Caucus Road Caucus: meetings of state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national convention Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party The Iowa caucus is first and most important.

The Primary Road- Most delegates are chosen through primaries. The Nomination Game The Primary Road- Most delegates are chosen through primaries. McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

Presidential Primaries Significance of Primary Timing- front-loading primaries

Nominating and Electing a Candidate