The Electoral The Electoral ProcessProcess

NominationNomination

Naming of those who will seek officeNaming of those who will seek office

5 Ways to Nominate5 Ways to Nominate Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement CaucusCaucus ConventionConvention Direct PrimaryDirect Primary PetitionPetition

Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement

““I am running.”I am running.” Write-in Write-in

candidates.candidates.

CaucusCaucus

Is a group of Is a group of people who meet people who meet to select the to select the candidates they candidates they will support in an will support in an upcoming election.upcoming election.

ConventionConvention

Choose people who Choose people who are going to run in are going to run in an electionan election

For example: For example: Presidential Presidential NominationsNominations

PetitionPetition

Collecting of signatures to be Collecting of signatures to be able to place your name on the able to place your name on the ballot.ballot.

PrimariesPrimaries

Direct Primary: held within the party to Direct Primary: held within the party to select the party’s candidates.select the party’s candidates.

Different Types:Different Types: Closed- party nominating election in which Closed- party nominating election in which

only declared party members vote.only declared party members vote. Open- party nominating election in which Open- party nominating election in which

anyone can vote.anyone can vote. Blanket – voters get a list of candidates and Blanket – voters get a list of candidates and

can vote for whomever they want.can vote for whomever they want.

ElectionsElections

Absentee VotingAbsentee Voting

Too ill or disabled to make it to the Too ill or disabled to make it to the polling places.polling places.

Those who expect to away from Those who expect to away from home on election day (business trip, home on election day (business trip, college, vacation)college, vacation)

Those serving in the armed forcesThose serving in the armed forces

Election Day is Tuesday-after-the Election Day is Tuesday-after-the first-Monday in November.first-Monday in November.

Coattail Effect: occurs when a strong Coattail Effect: occurs when a strong candidate running for an office at candidate running for an office at the top of the ballot helps attract the top of the ballot helps attract voters to other candidates on the voters to other candidates on the party’s ticket.party’s ticket.

Money Money and and

ElectioElectionsns

Why is Money so Why is Money so Important to a Important to a

Campaign?Campaign?

Candidates Spend Money Candidates Spend Money On:On:

TelevisionTelevision RadioRadio NewspapersNewspapers SignsSigns TravelTravel

Where Do They Get the Where Do They Get the Money?Money?

Small contributorsSmall contributors Wealthy individuals and familiesWealthy individuals and families CandidatesCandidates Nonparty Groups (Political Action Nonparty Groups (Political Action

Committees)Committees) Temporary OrganizationsTemporary Organizations

Regulating Campaign Regulating Campaign FinanceFinance

Began in 1907Began in 1907

Federal Election Federal Election Commission (FEC)Commission (FEC)

Set up to deal with federal law Set up to deal with federal law dealing with campaign finance.dealing with campaign finance.

Contribution RulesContribution Rules

No individual or group can donate No individual or group can donate money in the name of another.money in the name of another.

Cash gifts must be $100 dollars or less. Cash gifts must be $100 dollars or less. More than $100 are not accepted. More than $100 are not accepted.

Candidate can only have one Candidate can only have one committee that collects money and committee that collects money and spends the money.spends the money.

Any contribution of $5,000 must be Any contribution of $5,000 must be reported to the FEC no later than 48 reported to the FEC no later than 48 hours after it is received.hours after it is received.

Limits on ContributionsLimits on Contributions

No more than a $1,000 can be given by No more than a $1,000 can be given by a person to someone in a federal a person to someone in a federal election.election.

A person cannot give more than $5,000 A person cannot give more than $5,000 to a political action committee.to a political action committee.

Or $20,000 to a national party Or $20,000 to a national party committee.committee.

A person can not donate more than A person can not donate more than $25,000 a year total.$25,000 a year total.

PAC ContributionsPAC Contributions

Political parts of special-interest Political parts of special-interest groups.groups.

Loopholes in the LawLoopholes in the Law

Soft Money: Is money given to : Is money given to State and local party organizations State and local party organizations for “party-building activities” for “party-building activities” ex. Voter registration, get-out-the-vote ex. Voter registration, get-out-the-vote

drives, party mailings and drives, party mailings and advertisements, and “voter-education”.advertisements, and “voter-education”.

Hard Money: campaign money that is subject to regulation by the FEC.

Help Me Help Me Decide Decide How I How I Would Would Vote?Vote?

Quincy DanielsQuincy Daniels 55 Years of Age55 Years of Age

ProtestantProtestant

WhiteWhite

LawyerLawyer

RepublicanRepublican

Maria JacksonMaria Jackson

65 years of age65 years of age

Pro-LifePro-Life

Supports WarSupports War

HousewifeHousewifeRepublicanRepublican

Mike JonesMike Jones

84 years of age84 years of age PriestPriest Wants less Wants less

military military spendingspending

Pro- ChoicePro- Choice Legalize Legalize

MarijuanaMarijuana

DemocratDemocrat