The Electoral ProcessThe Electoral Process

Chapter 7Chapter 7

A Critical First StepA Critical First Step

• In the US, the election process is in In the US, the election process is in two steps:two steps:

• 1. Nomination – narrowing the field 1. Nomination – narrowing the field of candidatesof candidates

• 2. General Election – Voters make 2. General Election – Voters make the final choicethe final choice

Nominating and Electing a Nominating and Electing a CandidateCandidate

Ways to NominateWays to Nominate

• 1. 1. Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement – A person who wants to run for office announces A person who wants to run for office announces

their candidacy. Example: Write-Intheir candidacy. Example: Write-In

• 2. 2. Caucus/ConventionCaucus/Convention– Caucus - Like-minded people who select Caucus - Like-minded people who select

candidates (corrupt)candidates (corrupt)– Convention – party’s members meet at a Convention – party’s members meet at a

local caucus to pick candidates.local caucus to pick candidates.

Ways to NominateWays to Nominate

• 3. Petition 3. Petition – gather a required number of voters’ signaturesgather a required number of voters’ signatures– Minor party and independent candidates use Minor party and independent candidates use

this process.this process.– Used at the local level for elections.Used at the local level for elections.

4. Direct Primary4. Direct Primary

Types of Direct Primaries

Closed Primary

Only declared party members

can vote.

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

The Administration of The Administration of ElectionsElections

• Elections are primarily handled by Elections are primarily handled by the States, but there are some the States, but there are some federal regulations:federal regulations:

• Congress has the power to:Congress has the power to:– Set time, place, and manner of electionsSet time, place, and manner of elections– First Tuesday after the first Monday in First Tuesday after the first Monday in

NovemberNovember

Precincts and Polling PlacesPrecincts and Polling Places

• Precinct Precinct – small geographic units – small geographic units used to carry out electionsused to carry out elections

• Polling PlacePolling Place – where the voters – where the voters living in a precinct go to vote. living in a precinct go to vote. Should be conveniently located to Should be conveniently located to the voter’s place of residence.the voter’s place of residence.

Casting the BallotCasting the Ballot

• HistoryHistory– Originally voting was done orally. Originally voting was done orally. – Mid-1800s – began using paper ballots. Mid-1800s – began using paper ballots.

People brought their own.People brought their own.– Late 1800s – began using standard Late 1800s – began using standard

ballot.ballot.

Ballots

•Australian– Printed at public’s expense– Lists names of all candidates– Given out at polls– Secrecy

•Two Types– Office Group– Party-Column (straight-ticket)

Office-Group and Party-Column Office-Group and Party-Column BallotBallot

Campaign SpendingCampaign Spending

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

Sources of FundingSources of Funding

Small Contributors

Wealthy supporters

Nonparty groups such as PACs

Temporary fund-raising

organizations

Candidates Government subsidies

Private and Public Sources of Campaign Money

PACPAC

• Political Action Committee Political Action Committee – Organized for the purpose of raising and Organized for the purpose of raising and

spending money to elect/defeat spending money to elect/defeat candidates.candidates.

– Can give up to $5,000 to candidate during Can give up to $5,000 to candidate during election year.election year.

– Can give up to $15,000 to political partyCan give up to $15,000 to political party– Can give $5,000 to other PACs.Can give $5,000 to other PACs.– Ex: Coca-Cola, AT&TEx: Coca-Cola, AT&T

Super PACSuper PAC

• New type created in 2010New type created in 2010

• No contributions to candidates or No contributions to candidates or partiesparties

• Make independent expenditures in Make independent expenditures in way of ads, sending mail, etc. way of ads, sending mail, etc.

• No limit in giving $$$No limit in giving $$$

• EX: Just Drink The Kool-Aid; Peeps PACEX: Just Drink The Kool-Aid; Peeps PAC

The Federal Election The Federal Election CommissionCommission

•The FEC enforces:The FEC enforces:• the timely disclosure of campaign finance the timely disclosure of campaign finance

informationinformation

• limits on campaign contributionslimits on campaign contributions

• limits on campaign expenditureslimits on campaign expenditures

• provisions for public funding of provisions for public funding of presidential campaignspresidential campaigns

Loopholes in the LawLoopholes in the Law

• Soft moneySoft money—money given to State and local party —money given to State and local party organizations for “party-building activities” that is organizations for “party-building activities” that is filtered to presidential or congressional campaigns. filtered to presidential or congressional campaigns. $500 million was given to campaigns in this way in $500 million was given to campaigns in this way in 2000.2000.

• Independent campaign spendingIndependent campaign spending—a person —a person unrelated and unconnected to a candidate or party unrelated and unconnected to a candidate or party can spend as much money as they want to benefit or can spend as much money as they want to benefit or work against candidates.work against candidates.

• Issue adsIssue ads—take a stand on certain issues in order to —take a stand on certain issues in order to criticize or support a certain candidate without criticize or support a certain candidate without actually mentioning that person’s name.actually mentioning that person’s name.