1. Elections
Chapter 13

2. Question to ponder
What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

3. Purposes of Elections Fill public offices Staff government
Winners claim a mandate from the people

4. Primary election vs. General Election
Primary Elections: nominate candidates through the distribution of delegates to a candidate
Open: Any eligible voter can vote
Closed: Must be registered with a particular party to vote
Runoff
General Election: fill elective public offices.

5. Other elections Initiative: Proposals supported be the people
Referendum: Proposals submitted by state legislatures
Recall: Voters remove an incumbent from office by popular vote
i.e. Governor Grey Davis was removed by a recall vote, replaced by “Terminator”

6. Primary v. Caucus Primary
Winner take all primary: Candidate with majority of votes receives all that state’s delegates.
Proportional representation primary: Candidates receive % of delegates in proportion to their % of popular vote in that state.
Caucus: meeting of members of a political party where members choose from the list of those seeking nomination for president.

7. Strategy to Win Nomination vs. general election
In primaries, candidates must appeal to their party
Opponents are from the same party
Less media coverage, financing for primaries
In a general election, candidates must appeal to the moderates
Opponents are from the different party
More media coverage, greater spending for a general election

8. Primary vs. Caucus 36 states had primaries in 2012
14 states had caucuses
Iowa caucus begins the nomination season

9. Frontloading
Frontloading: tendency of states to choose an early date on the primary calander.
Benefits?
Media attention
Attention to state
Money spent in a state

11. Party Conventions Held the summer of an election year Media frenzy
Fundamentally different today than what it was in the past

13. Factors Decline Roles of Conventions
Delegate selection
Nominated through primaries, pre-committed to their candidate
Superdelegates: delegates spots at the Democratic National Convention reserved for elected official
National candidates
Lessened the power of state and local party leaders at the conventions.
News Media
Tracking delegate selection, much exposure and information

14. Delegate Appointments
Chosen through primaries
Proportional representation vs. Winner-take-all
WTA can shorten the process for candidates winning the nomination
WTA can affect strategy
WTA advantages those with more prominence, name recognition

15. Congressional Elections
Occur every two years
Less obscure, popular than presidential elections.
Midterm elections: elections that take place in the middle of a presidential term (2010, 2014, 2018, etc)

17. Voting Turnout Presidential vs. Midterm elections
Higher turnout in presidential elections
Media coverage is greater
Increased interest in presidential campaigns/elections
Primary vs. General Elections
Higher turnout in general elections
Greater media coverage
Increased interest
Partisans and activists are more likely to vote in primaries
Average voter more likely to vote in a general election
Many primary elections are noncompetitive

18. Voter Turnout in United States
Commonly one of the lowest turnouts amongst industrialized countries

19. Incumbency Advantage Incumbent: somebody already in office
Taxpayer funds to run office
Highly visible in districts
Gerrymandering
Protects incumbents
Enhances political party strength
Franking privilege: ability of congressional leaders to send mail to their constituents at no cost.
Re-election of incumbents are VERY high

20. Michigan’s Congressional Districts

21. Redistricting
Every 10 years, based on U.S. Census, congressional district lines are redrawn.
Redrawn by state legislatures
Reapportionment: when states gain or lose representation in the House

22. Reno v. Shaw

23. Shaw v. Reno (1993) Gerrymandering case
Districts created with race as the dominant consideration violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

24. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes?
Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor.
Age: Older = more likely to vote.
Turnout lowest among young people
Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education.
Interest in politics (political efficacy)

25. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes? (continued)
Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote.
Union Membership: Union member = more likely to vote.
Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

26. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice

27. Reasons for Lower Voter Turnout
Difficulty of Registration (#1 reason)
“Motor Voter” laws: register to vote when applying for license.
Too Busy
Number of Elections
Difficulty of Absentee Voting
Limited opportunities (midweek, limited hours, single day,etc…)

28. Electoral Requirements Decrease Turnout
Citizenship
Age
Registration
Photo identification laws: photo identification necessary to vote
Some don’t have/don’t bring their Ids to vote, therefore they cannot vote

29. Expansion of the Electorate
Fifteenth Amendment: Suffrage for African-American males
Nineteenth Amendment: Suffrage for females
Twenty-sixth Amendment: lowered voting age to 18.

30. Electoral College 1 Congress member=1 Electoral Vote
23rd Amendment- 3 electors to D.C.
Winner take all in 48 states
Winner of the popular vote in the state receives ALL of that states electoral votes
National Popular Vote is IRRELEVANT

31. Why has the Electoral College NOT been abolished?
Helps ensure a majority of electoral votes are earned by one candidate
History/Tradition
Change would require a Constitutional amendment
No clear better alternative
Ensures a two-party system
Favors big and small states collectively

32. E.C.-National Popular Vote is IRRELEVENT
1824, 1876, 1888, 2000: President won the Electoral College vote despite not having the majority of popular vote

33. Elections decided by House of Representatives
In the event no candidate receives majority (more than 1/2 ) of electoral votes, House of Representatives decides
1800- Tie in Electoral College (Result was 12th Amendment)
1824-House chose Adams over Jackson