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Civic Education Workshop

Civic Education Workshop. Day 2: Presidential Elections. Structure of Presidential Elections. National Law sets days for Federal elections, minimum qualifications, basic voter rights, and regulations for campaign finance of federal elections

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Civic Education Workshop

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  1. Civic Education Workshop Day 2: Presidential Elections

  2. Structure of Presidential Elections • National Law sets days for Federal elections, minimum qualifications, basic voter rights, and regulations for campaign finance of federal elections • State Law controls ballot form, access to the ballot, registration, polling times, absentee ballots, division of Electoral Votes • The “Rules of the Game” matter!

  3. Running for President • Getting Nominated • Delegates to national conventions select candidates • Previously, delegates were selected before primaries and free to support whomever they wanted • Now, most delegates are bound to particular candidates based on primaries

  4. Presidential Primaries • Primaries are a series of state-wide elections • Rules governing primaries are set by state and national political parties • Timing • Allocation of delegates • Open or closed primaries • Conventions

  5. Presidential Primaries (cont.) • Early primary success is critical • Creates a bandwagon effect • Attracts media coverage and contributions • “Success” defined by expectations • LBJ; Clinton • Importance of early primaries has caused pressure to ‘front-load’ • Front-loading makes early money and name recognition more important

  6. Presidential Primaries (cont.) • Primaries differ from general elections because: • They often begin with more than 2 viable candidates • Primary and general electorates are not the same • Party labels cannot serve as information cues

  7. The General Election • Early Nominees have the advantage • The content of the campaigns change because the opponents change • The battle is over defining the nature of the choice (“It’s the Economy Stupid”)

  8. General Election (cont.) • The Electoral College means that presidential elections are really a set of 50 (plus D.C.) simultaneous state-wide elections • The Electoral College over-represents small states • Candidates compete in “swing” states

  9. Elements of the General Election • Polls • Learn about voters • Test messages • Negative campaigns • Negative messages stick with voters • Must be credible • Remember, the goal is not to make voters feel good – the goal is to win. • The Debates • What is said is important • What is said about them is also important

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