5 IMPORTANT TASKS OF THE PARTIES

1. 5 IMPORTANT TASKS OF THE PARTIES • Choose candidates • Run campaigns • Send cues to voters • Articulate policies • Coordinate policy making

2. 1. Choose candidates Nomination process allows voters of the party to pick candidates 9 Republicans ran for president in 2012

3. 2. Parties run campaigns National, state, and local parties coordinate efforts to get candidates elected

4. 3. Parties give cues to voters D or R means something to voters -- R, lower taxes -- D, pro choice

5. 4. Parties articulate policies Great attempts by both parties to contrast views with opposing party

6. 5. Coordinate policymaking Public officials and office holders also belong to a party -- attempts to project consistent policies top to bottom

7. PARTY IDENTIFICATION What political party do you closely align with? Democratic Party or Republican Party? SELF IDENTIFICATION

8. THE NUMBER 1 FACTOR VOTERS USE TO DECIDE WHO TO VOTE FOR IN ELECTION IS: (D) or (R) next to the name of the candidate

9. SPLIT TICKET VOTING GENERAL ELECTION EXAMPLE 2012 PRESIDENT X Barack Obama (D) Mitt Romney (R) CONGRESS Darrell Davis (D) X Pat Tiberi (R) STATE AUDITOR X Melinda Murray (D) Dave Yost (R)

10. INCREASING TREND EVIDENCE: “Red states” -- Republican voters with Democratic governors or senators “Blue states” -- Democratic voters with Republican governors or senators What color state is Ohio?

11. VOTERS LESS LOYAL TO PARTY *Straight ticket voting is less common today versus a generation ago *Voters may like a candidate regardless of party label *Party organizations are weaker today than in the past

12. PARTY ID FROM 1952 TO PRESENT *DEMOCRATS -- 48% *REPUBLICANS -- 30% *INDEPENDENTS -- 22%

13. 2012 presidential election results Democrats -- 38% 92% voted Obama Republicans -- 32% 93% voted Romney Independents -- 29% 50% voted Romney 45% voted Obama

14. AGE AND SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES *The younger the voter, the more likely to support an independent *The older the voter, the more likely to support one of the two major parties

15. Comparing types of primaries *The political parties utilize a system of primaries and caucuses to allow voters to choose candidates among the party

16. Open primaries *Voter may determine which party ballot they will request on day of the primary election

17. Pitfalls of an open primary *Voters of the opposing party could purposely vote for other party’s weakest candidate to give them the nomination -- rarely happens or makes a difference

18. Example *Democratic or Republican ballot *If Democratic, all candidates on the ballot are Democrats *If Republican, all candidates on ballot are Republicans

19. ALL CANDIDATES OF THE SAME PARTY

20. Closed primary *Same as open, but voter must declare prior to primary election day, their party preference *Voter receives only 1 party ballot

21. Blanket primary *Voter may vote on either party ballot *Democratic and Republican candidates are combined on the ballot

22. Alaska -- one of the few true blanket primaries

23. *Closed primary offers the tightest party control and promotes party loyalty among the voters *Closed are most common and preferred by parties

24. Ohio Primaries

25. Ohio primary is unique *Closed primary, but loosely enforced *Voter may change party allegiance on date of election -- voter can be challenged by election officials

26. National party organization National convention *Every 4 years holds the presidential nomination *Creates a display of party values, ideology, & beliefs *Week long PARTY

27. National Committee *Republican National Committee (RNC) *Democratic National Committee (DNC) *Nationally organized, corporately structured, geared to raise money

28. Democratic National Chairperson Debbie Wasserman-Shultz

29. Republican National Chairperson ReincePriebus