1. THE ELECTORAL PROCESS THE NOMINATING PROCESS

2. The First Step: ▫In order to have an election, candidates must be recognized/exist Self Announcement: ▫When a candidate announces himself as running for office The Caucus ▫A group of like-minded people (often parties) where people can be nominated to run for office-COLLAPSED

3. THE DIRECT PRIMARY An inter-party election The Closed Primary ▫Only declared party members can vote Open Primary ▫Any voter can choose (all parties) ▫Ruled unconstitutional in CA in CDP v. Jones  Can not force parties to associate with outsiders

4. CRITICISMS OF PRIMARY SYSTEMS Those who favor the closed primary: ▫1. It prevents one party from “raiding” other parties elections ▫2. It helps make candidates responsive to their party (more accountable) ▫3. it helps make voters more thoughtful because they must choose between parties to vote Those who disagree with closed primaries: ▫1. It compromises the secrecy of the ballot, forces people to announce party preferences in public ▫2. Excludes the independent voters who do not want to affiliate with parties

5. THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS The Runoff Primary ▫In 11 states, a majority is need to win a primary (others need a plurality) ▫A runoff is held a few weeks after the top two winners of the original election face each other-winner gets all Nonpartisan Primary ▫Candidates do not run with party labels  Judges, etc.  Very often, they will go unopposed in the general election

6. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY It is a more complex process than the primaries of other offices ▫Mainly because it is nationwide ▫It is a way to help narrow down candidates National Convention ▫Used to announce official winner of primaries More on this later…

7. ELECTORAL COLLEGE Allows states to show power and sovereignty ▫Power divided between individual states Each state gets a certain number of electoral votes ▫Based on # of member in Congress (both houses) ▫New Mexico has 5 electoral votes (3+2)

8. ELECTORAL COLLEGE Winner is the candidate that wins a clear majority of electoral votes (270) ▫A majority is needed to win the election. If there is no majority… ▫House votes to elect President (1 vote per state) ▫Senate votes to elect Vice President (1 vote per state)  12 th Amendment  1800 and 1824  TJ/Adams and JQA/AJack.

9. Bush: 271 Electoral Votes (30) Gore: 266 Electoral Votes (20+DC) Bush: 50,456,002 Gore: 50,999,897