1. Elections: Primary vs. General Elections

2. In order to be elected to office a “candidate” (person running for office) must win two different types of elections: 1) A Primary Election and 2) A General Election General Election Primary Election 1 2 “Candidate”

3. Election 1: “Primary Election” - Contest between candidates from the same political party to decide who receives the party’s “nomination” (ex. Republican vs. Republican or Democrat vs. Democrat vs. Democrat) “Primary Election”

4. Types of Primary Elections 1) Open Primary –Voters of any party may vote 2) Closed Primary –Only voters registered as members of the candidates’ party may vote 3) Caucuses –Include open discussion of candidates as well as an informal vote Delegate Selection in Presidential Primaries: 1) Proportional 2) Winner-take-all *Superdelegates

5. “Nominee”- The candidate who has won his party’s “nomination” (The party’s official endorsement or permission to run for office) Doug Collins “Nominee” “Primary Election” “Primary”

6. Doug Collins Jody Cooley General Election “Nominee” “Primary Election” Election 2: “General Election” - Contest between nominees from opposing political parties to decide who will hold an elected office (ex. Republican vs. Democrat or Republican vs. Democrat vs. Green Party) General Election Primary Election 1 2 “Nominee”

7. “General Election” “Nominee”

8. Primary vs. General Elections: Comparison Who votes? Primary Elections: are dominated by party activists and other politically knowledgeable people –Favors candidates who take extreme positions on the issues; –Positions more favored by the party’s base General Elections: a wider swath of the electorate typically turns out –Favor candidates that move to the center on most issues Voter Turnout Much higher in general elections than in primary elections Reasons: –General elections simplify choices –Greater media coverage of general elections –Increased interest in, and perceived importance of, general elections

10. In all federal elections candidates for office are chosen by: A.Primaries and General Elections B.Party Conventions and Nominating Conventions C.Party Leaders and State Legislatures D.Referendums and Recalls

11. A party’s endorsement to officially run for office as the candidate of that party is called: A. A ticket B. A nomination C. A confirmation D. An appointment