1. The Electoral Process
Chapter 7

2. A Critical First Step In the US, the election process is in two steps:
1. Nomination – narrowing the field of candidates
2. General Election – Voters make the final choice

3. Nominating and Electing a Candidate

4. Ways to Nominate 1. Self-Announcement 2. Caucus/Convention
A person who wants to run for office announces their candidacy. Example: Write-In
2. Caucus/Convention
Caucus - Like-minded people who select candidates (corrupt)
Convention – party’s members meet at a local caucus to pick candidates.

5. Ways to Nominate 3. Petition
gather a required number of voters’ signatures
Minor party and independent candidates use this process.
Used at the local level for elections.

6. Types of Direct Primaries
4. Direct Primary
Types of Direct Primaries
Open Primary
Any qualified voter can take part. (2 ballots)
Blanket Primary
(1 ballot)
Qualified voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party
Runoff Primary
If a required majority is not met, the two people with the most votes run again
Nonpartisan Primary
Candidates are not identified by party labels
Closed Primary
Only declared party members can vote.

7. The Administration of Elections
Elections are primarily handled by the States, but there are some federal regulations:
Congress has the power to:
Set time, place, and manner of elections
First Tuesday after the first Monday in November

8. Precincts and Polling Places
Precinct – small geographic units used to carry out elections
Polling Place – where the voters living in a precinct go to vote. Should be conveniently located to the voter’s place of residence.

9. Casting the Ballot History Originally voting was done orally.
Mid-1800s – began using paper ballots. People brought their own.
Late 1800s – began using standard ballot.

10. Ballots Australian Two Types Printed at public’s expense
Lists names of all candidates
Given out at polls
Secrecy
Two Types
Office Group
Party-Column (straight-ticket)

11. Office-Group and Party-Column Ballot

12. Electoral College 270 of 538 votes
House chooses Pres. If 270 is not reached
Senate chooses Vice-Pres.
Electors cast their vote separately

13. Campaign Spending

14. 2008 Campaign Spending McCain (Republican) $333 million
Obama (Democrat)
$730 million
Barr (Libertarian)
$1 million
Nader (Independent)
$ 4 million
McKinney (Green)
$ 145,000
Baldwin (Constitution)
$ 208,000

15. Private and Public Sources of Campaign Money
Sources of Funding
Private and Public Sources of Campaign Money
Nonparty groups such as PACs
Small Contributors
Temporary fund-raising organizations
Wealthy supporters
Candidates
Government subsidies

16. PAC Political Action Committee
Organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect/defeat candidates.
Can give up to $5,000 to candidate during election year.
Can give up to $15,000 to political party
Can give $5,000 to other PACs.
Ex: Coca-Cola, AT&T

17. Super PAC New type created in 2010
No contributions to candidates or parties
Make independent expenditures in way of ads, sending mail, etc.
No limit in giving $$$
EX: Just Drink The Kool-Aid; Peeps PAC

18. The Federal Election Commission
The FEC enforces:
the timely disclosure of campaign finance information
limits on campaign contributions
limits on campaign expenditures
provisions for public funding of presidential campaigns

19. Loopholes in the Law
Soft money—money given to State and local party organizations for “party-building activities” that is filtered to presidential or congressional campaigns. $500 million was given to campaigns in this way in 2000.
Independent campaign spending—a person unrelated and unconnected to a candidate or party can spend as much money as they want to benefit or work against candidates.
Issue ads—take a stand on certain issues in order to criticize or support a certain candidate without actually mentioning that person’s name.