1. Electoral Process

2. Nomination Process Critical component of Democracy Nomination – first step in process –Two ways of nomination »Party Affiliation »Self Appointment Self-Appointment –Oldest forum of Nomination process –Often used on local level; rarely on National »Who wants to run – publicly declares a bid for an office »Usually used by someone who failed to receive party nomination (e.g. Theodore Roosevelt – Bull Moose Party) »Recent examples – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ross Perot Caucus – like minded people who select candidates for election –Parties form caucus’s to help promote a candidate –Selective not all participated – (e.g. legislative caucus’s) »Unrepresentative nature »System died after 1824

3. Nomination Process National Conventions Means of making nominations on all levels –Local, state, or national caucus’s are formed –Choose who will run for what office »Local convention chooses candidates for local office & delegates »Local delegates – county convention – nominate county elections & county delegates »County delegates – state convention – nominate for state election – choose state delegates »State delegates – go to national convention – make pres/vice-pres nominations. –Theory – rank and file members will always be nominated –Rank & file advance through the representative levels Highly corruptible – money & party boss’s formed caucus’s to get officials elected (locally) –They receive kick backs for promoting and campaigning a nominee –System collapse after 1870s

4. Nomination Process Direct Primaries Intra-party election – party members get together – choose candidate for election Most states use some form of direction primaries Two forms of primaries – Open & Closed Closed Primary – 24 States Only declared party members can cast a vote/nominate –Party membership declared through registration –Voters can only vote on their parties ticket Open Primary – 26 States Party nomination election any qualified voter can cast a ballot Voters handed ballots with both parties on ballot – vote how they want –Three kinds of open-primaries

5. Nomination Process Open Primaries Blanket Primaries –Voters all receive the same “blanket” ballot –Voters have choice – vote according to party; or switch back & forth between parties Run-off Primaries – 10 States –Absolute majority needed to win a vote –If a majority is not reached – a runoff is held »Two top vote-getters face each other for party nomination »Winner takes all Non-partisan Primary –Candidates not identified by party labels »Judges, sheriffs, some county positions run as non-partisan –Non-partisan primary winners then allowed to run for election

6. Nomination Process Evaluation of the Primary Primaries are intra-party nomination elections –Intended to put nomination power in the party’s membership – not the party leaders –Gives party members an opportunity to participate in core politics Weakness’s –Closed primaries – declaration of party affiliation before voting –No voting for more than one candidate –Exclusion of independents from the ballots – penciled in nominees –Primary campaigns are costly »Intra-party - trying to capture the vote »Leads to Money problems of American politics – no money = no office –Intra-party conflicts – wound and divide a party »It has split parties –Un-informed cliental »General public doesn’t understand primaries »Low voter turn out »Most notable individuals usually get the nomination

7. Nomination Process Petition Process Nomination by petition –Popular on the local level »Used usually for minor parties or non-partisan officials –Collection of signatures to put someone in office…or kick them out.

8. Elections Law to govern elections Any year 500,000 people voted into 87,000 different offices of the U.S. –What makes all this work…laws/regulations –Constitution sets days in which elections will be held (Presidential) »States determine their own elections Elections occur simultaneously –States hold elections same time as other elections – (Presidential & Gubernatorial) Several methods of casting a ballot –Absentee voting – someone votes without going to the polls »Intended to help serve the ill & geriatric –Automated Voting »Voting electronically –Poll Place (Precinct Voting) – »Smallest district in a voting procedure »Helps maintain order – everyone goes to their own precinct to vote –Mail in ballots (Oregon) »Modified form of the Absentee ballot – promote more cooperation in voting

9. Elections Election essential – Ballot Device by which a voters voice & choice is made –All ballots in all states are secret »Much of history has been dominated by paper ballots –1856 new ballot form – Australian Ballot »Ballot printed at public expense »Lists the names of all candidates in elections »Given out only at polls »It is a secret ballot Three differing varieties of Australian Ballot –Office Group Ballot »Nominees are all listed under various offices they seek –Party Column Ballot »Encourages straight ticket voting »All nominees are listed under their parties

10. Elections Bed-sheet Ballots –Idea is the greatest number of nominees = more democratic process »County corners, treasurer, assessor, surveyor etc… –Promotes long voting cessions Arguments against Bed-sheets –More offices and nominees = less informed citizenry –Balloting fatigue –The above positions carry no policy making power/authority Electronic or Automated Voting Half the U.S. uses automated