1. Chapter 10 section 2
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

2. Types of Elections:
A. Primary Election – narrows the field of candidates
B. General Election – Chooses the person to fill the office.
Special Election – run-off election :
no candidate has won a majority
Recall election – vote to remove an official from office

3. II. New laws at election time.
Voters can propose new laws through a process known
as the Initiative.
B. They get signatures of qualified voters on a petition.
C. The proposed law is called a proposition and is placed on the ballot in the next general election.
D. Citizens can approve or reject state or local laws through referendum votes

4. III. Steps to Presidential Elections.
1. Nomination of candidates:
Step 1: Candidates campaign to win their party’s nomination.

5. Step 2. Primary elections are held to reduce the
number of Candidates

6. Step 3: One candidate is chosen during the national convention

7. 2. Campaigning
Selected candidates travel across the country giving
speeches and appearing on TV.

8. 3. President is elected through the electoral college system.
Popular Vote:
Vote on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
The winner of the popular vote for the state wins all of the electoral votes for that state
Electoral vote:
270 out of 538
Vote on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December – Electors vote in their state capitals- the votes are sent to Congress
January 6 – Electoral Votes officially counted by Congress
January 20th-
President is sworn into office

9. IV. Electoral College System
When Americans cast their vote for President, they
actually vote for an elector.
A. Electors are pledged to cast their vote for their candidate.
1. Each state has as many electors as it has Senators
and Representatives in the House of Representatives.
Congressional Representation
2. Washington D.C. has 3 electoral votes.
3. The total number of electoral votes is 538 ( )

10. 4. The Electoral college is the name given to all of the electors.

11. 3.The popular vote (vote of the people) determines the electoral vote.

12. A. It is a winner take all system – the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that state’s electoral votes. 13

13. B. A candidate must have 270 out of the total 538 electoral votes
to win the presidency.
C. The electoral votes are officially counted on January 6 by Congress.
3. If no candidate receives a majority
A. The House of Representatives chooses the President
from the 3 leading candidates
B. The Senate chooses the Vice President

14. Straight Ticket: when a person votes for candidates from one party
IV. Other Notes:
Straight Ticket: when a person votes for candidates from one party
on the same ballot
Example: Republican President
Republican Senator
Republican Mayor

15. Split Ticket: when a person votes for candidates from
different parties on the same ballot
Example: Republican President
Democrat Senator
Republican Mayor

16. C. Balanced Ticket: choosing a running mate with different characteristics from the candidate in order to get more votes.
Quiet
Reserved
Family person
Self made
Good with details
Religious
Reaches older voters
Outgoing
Active
Part of family business
Charismatic
Reaches younger voters

17. Lame Duck: an official who is still in office after his
replacement has been chosen leaving the official with little or
no power.

18. Summary of the Presidential Election Process
Candidates campaign to win their parties nomination
General Election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday to determine the popular vote.
Political parties hold primary elections between January and June to narrow down the field to one candidate
Popular voter determines the electoral vote needed
Electors from each state meet in their state capitals and cast their votes for the president. The results are sent to Congress. December.
Political parties hold a national convention to choose their candidate – Usually in Aug, Sept.
Congress counts the votes from the electors on Jan. 6 and announce the winner.
Candidates campaign to hold the office
The new president is sworn into office on Jan 20.