Primaries and Caucuses

1. Primaries and Caucuses Selecting the parties’ candidates

2. Complex! • Primary Elections Explained – YouTube • Remember, this is state-based. The state party decides whether to hold a caucus or primary, when it is to be held and voter eligibility. • Whatever, they have two functions: • A) Show popularity of candidates • B) Choose delegates to go to National Convention

3. Primary Elections • Closed: have to be a registered party voter to vote in this party’s primary. • Open: must be registered to vote but can vote in either but not both. • Semi-closed: registered party voters plus registered independents who choose one or the other to vote in!

4. When? • Should the state go early or late? • Should it go for a date on its own? • Should it coincide with others? • NB No primary allowed before New Hampshire

5. How many delegates does a state get? • Depends on the number of registered voters that party has in the state. • Eg 2012 New Hampshire: 12 delegates California: 172 delegates And who are they???

6. How are delegates allocated? • Democrats use a proportional system. Ie candidates are awarded delegates in proportion to the votes they get. • Republicans use both proportional (eg New Hampshire) and winner-takes-all (eg South Carolina) primaries! • States often set a threshold (15%) • Key point: it’s all about the delegates!

7. Advantages • Very democratic: participation and choice • Allows issues to be raised • Reveals a candidate’s vote-winning appeal, or lack of • Allows outsiders to become well-known • Removes power of party bosses

8. Disadvantages • The position of (Iowa and) New Hampshire • Frontloading • Too long and drawn out • Low (and unrepresentative) turnout • Candidate orientation • Internal divisions • Expense • Lack of peer review • Superdelegates • Favours larger states • Can damage potentially good candidates