Electoral Process

1. Electoral Process

2. Nomination Process • Critical component of Democracy • Nomination – first step in process • Two ways of nomination • Party Affiliation • Self Appointment • Self-Appointment • Oldest forum of Nomination process • Often used on local level; rarely on National • Who wants to run – publicly declares a bid for an office • Usually used by someone who failed to receive party nomination (e.g. Theodore Roosevelt – Bull Moose Party) • Recent examples – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ross Perot • Caucus – like minded people who select candidates for election • Parties form caucus’s to help promote a candidate • Selective not all participated – (e.g. legislative caucus’s) • Unrepresentative nature • System died after 1824

3. Nomination Process • National Conventions • Means of making nominations on all levels • Local, state, or national caucus’s are formed • Choose who will run for what office • Local convention chooses candidates for local office & delegates • Local delegates – county convention – nominate county elections & county delegates • County delegates – state convention –nominate for state election – choose state delegates • State delegates – go to national convention – make pres/vice-pres nominations. • Theory – rank and file members will always be nominated • Rank & file advance through the representative levels • Highly corruptible – money & party boss’s formed caucus’s to get officials elected (locally) • They receive kick backs for promoting and campaigning a nominee • System collapse after 1870s

4. Nomination Process • Direct Primaries • Intra-party election – party members get together – choose candidate for election • Most states use some form of direction primaries • Two forms of primaries – Open & Closed • Closed Primary – 24 States • Only declared party members can cast a vote/nominate • Party membership declared through registration • Voters can only vote on their parties ticket • Open Primary – 26 States • Party nomination election any qualified voter can cast a ballot • Voters handed ballots with both parties on ballot – vote how they want • Three kinds of open-primaries

5. Nomination Process • Open Primaries • Blanket Primaries • Voters all receive the same “blanket” ballot • Voters have choice – vote according to party; or switch back & forth between parties • Run-off Primaries – 10 States • Absolute majority needed to win a vote • If a majority is not reached – a runoff is held • Two top vote-getters face each other for party nomination • Winner takes all • Non-partisan Primary • Candidates not identified by party labels • Judges, sheriffs, some county positions run as non-partisan • Non-partisan primary winners then allowed to run for election

6. Nomination Process • Evaluation of the Primary • Primaries are intra-party nomination elections • Intended to put nomination power in the party’s membership – not the party leaders • Gives party members an opportunity to participate in core politics • Weakness’s • Closed primaries – declaration of party affiliation before voting • No voting for more than one candidate • Exclusion of independents from the ballots – penciled in nominees • Primary campaigns are costly • Intra-party - trying to capture the vote • Leads to Money problems of American politics – no money = no office • Intra-party conflicts – wound and divide a party • It has split parties • Un-informed cliental • General public doesn’t understand primaries • Low voter turn out • Most notable individuals usually get the nomination

7. Nomination Process • Petition Process • Nomination by petition • Popular on the local level • Used usually for minor parties or non-partisan officials • Collection of signatures to put someone in office…or kick them out.

8. Elections • Law to govern elections • Any year 500,000 people voted into 87,000 different offices of the U.S. • What makes all this work…laws/regulations • Constitution sets days in which elections will be held (Presidential) • States determine their own elections • Elections occur simultaneously • States hold elections same time as other elections –(Presidential & Gubernatorial) • Several methods of casting a ballot • Absentee voting – someone votes without going to the polls • Intended to help serve the ill & geriatric • Automated Voting • Voting electronically • Poll Place (Precinct Voting) – • Smallest district in a voting procedure • Helps maintain order – everyone goes to their own precinct to vote • Mail in ballots (Oregon) • Modified form of the Absentee ballot – promote more cooperation in voting

9. Elections • Election essential – Ballot • Device by which a voters voice & choice is made • All ballots in all states are secret • Much of history has been dominated by paper ballots • 1856 new ballot form – Australian Ballot • Ballot printed at public expense • Lists the names of all candidates in elections • Given out only at polls • It is a secret ballot • Three differing varieties of Australian Ballot • Office Group Ballot • Nominees are all listed under various offices they seek • Party Column Ballot • Encourages straight ticket voting • All nominees are listed under their parties

10. Elections • Bed-sheet Ballots • Idea is the greatest number of nominees = more democratic process • County corners, treasurer, assessor, surveyor etc… • Promotes long voting cessions • Arguments against Bed-sheets • More offices and nominees = less informed citizenry • Balloting fatigue • The above positions carry no policy making power/authority • Electronic or Automated Voting • Half the U.S. uses automated