The Election Process

1. The Election Process Chapter 7 (shortened as we’ve already done the elections…)

2. Different Types of Direct Primaries • Direct primary – intraparty election • Held within party to pick candidates • Most states now use this, required for Federal spots • Some states allow conventions to pick • Two types of Direct primaries • Closed Primaries – only declared party members vote • 25 states use this including PA • Open Primaries – any qualified voter can vote to nominate • May only participate in either the Republican & Democratic one • 3 states now use a blanket primary – wide open primary

3. Few more thoughts on nominations • Runoff primary – 8 states require the nominee to win an absolute majority of votes to be picked; runoff primary happens if this does not occur the 1st time – only top two vote getters • (most states only require a plurality) • Nonpartisan elections – candidates not identified by party affiliation • Usually for local races – school boards, etc. • Petition – used widely in local elections – candidates submit petition to be nominated as a candidate

4. Election rules – most are State rules • Some are federal rules… • Election Date • Federal Election Commission • Secret ballots • Help America Vote Act, 2002 • Eliminated punch card voting, improve training of election workers, centralize voter registration systems & provide for provisional ballots

5. Voting itself… • Early voting v. absentee voting • The Precinct assigns polling places, oversees election, authorizes poll watchers • Types of ballots –Sample ballots • From Australian ballots = office –group ballot or party column ballot • Bed sheet ballots  ballot fatigue issue • Automated voting & electronic vote counting OK’d • online voting being discussed & used in some situations • Coattail effect

6. Sources of Funding for Elections • Small contributors – regular people who contribute about $5 or 10 to a campaign (10% of pop.) • Wealthy folks – “fat cats” – large donors • Candidates themselves • PACs – political action committees • “super PACs” – since Citizens United v. FEC, 2010 • Fundraisers • Temporary organizations to work for candidates; Internet • Subsidies from state & federal gov’ts

7. Federal Election Commission (FEC) • Administers all laws for campaign finances • Timely disclosure of campaign finance data • Must have single campaign committee to collect & spend $$ • Anything over $200 must be identified by source/ who & date • Not allowed: donations in name of another, cash over $100, $ from foreign sources • $ over $5K must be reported to SEC w/in 48 hours • In last 20 days of campaign $1K must also be reported

8. FEC: place limits on Contributions • Individual max of $2600 to candidate for primary & general elections; plus max of $5K to a PAC; & max of $32,400 to the national party • Total max of $123,200 every two year election cycle • Most PACs are affiliated w/ companies, unions, trade or health organizations – connected PACs • Non-connected PACs – single issue or ideological PAC • ***Now, no limits on $$ to super PACs***

9. More… • Place limits on campaign expenditures • Cap on spending of presidential campaigns that accept FEC subsidies for campaigning • Provide public funding for parts of the presidential election process • Presidential Election Campaign Fund – on tax forms • Offered to assist in campaign & convention • If accepted, then spending limits & other rules apply • In 2012, neither candidate used funds, but both parties did for their national conventions

10. Hard money vs. Soft money • Hard money - $ donated directly to candidates’ campaigns – it can be tracked & accounted for • Soft money - $ given to political parties, PACs, or other organizations for “party building activities” • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, 2002 - BCRA • Aka – McCain- Feingold Law • Banned soft money to political parties • Has led to “other political organizations” to be created & referred to as “527s” – part of tax code for their exemption • Requires advertisements to be identified as to who paid for it