1. C H A P T E R 7 The Electoral Process
American Government
C H A P T E R 7 The Electoral Process
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

3. In the United States, the election process occurs in three steps:
U.S. Election Process
In the United States, the election process occurs in three steps:
Nomination of candidates & Primary Elections in which the field of candidates is narrowed
National Conventions- announce winners of primaries & candidates for General Election
2. General election, the regularly scheduled election where voters make the final choice of officeholder 2 3
Chapter 7, Section 1

4. Fundraising Start the Race
1-4 Years Before Election
first steps for potential candidates
include broadening their visibility,
testing their appeal nationwide, and
developing committees to explore
their viability as a candidate. If
the results are encouraging, the
contender will officially announce his
or her candidacy.
1-4 Years Before Election
The costs of running for office
are huge and raising funds is an
ongoing effort throughout the
campaign. Lack of funds often
cause contenders to drop out of
the race.
January–June of the Election
Year Primaries and caucuses help determine
the party’s nominee. At this stage, voters
choose their party’s frontrunner and many
candidates concede defeat.
Fundraising
Start the Race
Primaries and Caucuses

5. Self-Announcement Highlight the most common Nominating methods Caucus
Convention
Primary
Direct
Petition
Self-Announcement
Highlight the most common

6. Caucuses & Primaries Both lead up to the convention
Primary Elections to decide between the Presidential Candidates
Caucuses & Primaries Both lead up to the convention

7. 3. Caucuses
Caucus: closed meeting of like-minded people who meet to select the candidate they will support , only a few states use this method.
Analyzing Political Cartoons The first delegate-selection
event in a presidential election by caucus is held in Iowa,
followed afterward by the first scheduled primary in New Hampshire.

8. 4. Primaries
Voters select delegates from their states to attend the national party convention
Primary Elections held in each state, citizens vote for candidate of their choice & the delegates represent their votes at the convention. Two Types of Primaries- Open & Closed
This is preferred because it allows people to decide on candidates for presidency and nominees have to work hard to get support.
2008: 40 states used presidential primary system
16 states hold their primaries on ‘Super Tuesday’= February 5th
3/4ths of states hold their primaries in mid-March

9. Final Phase General Election
Election between the Democratic and Republican Candidates

10. Election Day Debates National Conventions August–September of the
Election Year Delegates to
each party’s convention adopt
the party platform, nominate their
party’s presidential candidate,
and ratify his or her choice of
vice-presidential running mate.
September–November of
the Election Year Following
the conventions, each candidate
focuses on his or her opponent.
Debates provide opportunities
to compare and contrast each
candidate’s qualifications and
plans for the future.
November on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, the voters cast their
ballots and the president-elect is determined.
Debates
Election Day
National Conventions

11. 5. Convention
Parties select host city [look for arenas, stadiums, and sporting venues]
2008 Republican NC: wanted seating capacity of 25,000
2008 Democratic NC: wanted seating capacity of 84,000
Goals of National convention:
Name party’s presidential/vice presidential candidate
Promote party unity
Adopt party platform

12. Precincts and Polling Places
A polling place is where the voters who live in a precinct go to vote.
It is located in or near each precinct. Polling places are supposed to be located conveniently for voters.
Precincts
A precinct is a voting district.
Precincts are the smallest geographic units used to carry out elections.
A precinct election board supervises the voting process in each precinct. 1 3
Chapter 7, Section 2

13. Combination of Popular Vote in each state to win “Electoral” votes in Electoral College.
On Discovery video mentioned…
Founding Fathers didn’t really trust that American’s with popular vote….
Originally each state determined how to select a group of presidential electors = to # of Senators & Reps
Often Americans then voted for “local electors
These state electors would then met & voted for Pres. & VP
Candidate with most votes = Pres
2nd most votes = VP
Over time grew into Electoral College..

14. Popular Vote & Electoral College
Discussed in Presidential Unit…