1. Presidential Election process

2. Presidential elections occur ever 4 years in even-numbered years (ie, end with even number- 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, etc) that are evenly divisible by 4
Ex: 2012 (12 div. by 4 = 3)
2016 (16 div by 4 = 4)
Next election 2020 (20 div by 4 = 5) ETC

3. 1. Primary Elections & Caucuses
Primary: voters choose candidates within party who will then run in general election
Open primary: voters can vote for candidates of either party, even if they don’t belong to the party
Closed primary: only voters registered in party can vote
NC has semi-closed primary: affiliated voters can only vote in their party’s primary but unaffiliated voters can choose a party to vote for on election day

4. {Winning the primary} Majority: win more than half of the vote
Most primaries require a PLURALITY of votes: winning the most votes, EVEN IF that is less than 50%
Ex: NH primary - Donald Trump won w/ 35% of vote; John Kasich second w/ 16%
Third parties can get on ballot in most states via petition {super hard}

5. 2. National Nominating convention
Purpose: officially choose candidates (“nominees”) for each party
Held during summer of presidential election year
2016: Republican Convention  July 18-21, Cleveland, OH
Democratic Convention  July 25-28, Philadelphia, PA
Name VP

6. 3. Campaigns Full swing by September
Travel country, talk to people, advertisements, kiss babies, etc.
Debates (btwn Prez candidates & btwn VP candidates)

7. 4. General Election Purpose: elect next President!
Date: first Tuesday following first Monday of November
Presidential candidates in addition to….
HoR & Senate seats
State offices (governor, state legislature, etc.)
Local offices (county, city, etc.)
This year: November 8, 2016!!

8. 5. Electoral College Group of electors that actually select Prez & VP
Individual votes by citizens make up POPULAR VOTE, but vote that actually determines winner is ELECTORAL VOTE (vote cast by electors)
Technically in early December !!!!

9. 6. Inauguration  New president takes oath of office
Date: January 20 or 21 (if 20th is Sunday)
Used to be in March, but date adjusted by the 20th amendment (“lame duck” period)