1. The Electoral Process
CP Government
Chapter 7

2. 5 ways to Nominate Self Announcement Caucus Convention Direct Primary
Petition

3. 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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Types of Direct Primaries
Closed
Open
Blanket
Runoff
Nonpartisan

10. 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

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

12. 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)

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

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

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

16. 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

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

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

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

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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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

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

26. 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
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