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Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven. The Electoral Process. The Nominating Process. Process of candidate selection; naming those who will seek office Those who make nominations place limits on choices that voters can make in an election Ways in which nominations are made: Self-Announcement

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Chapter Seven

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  1. Chapter Seven The Electoral Process

  2. The Nominating Process Process of candidate selection; naming those who will seek office Those who make nominations place limits on choices that voters can make in an election Ways in which nominations are made: • Self-Announcement • The Caucus: group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in upcoming election; used more often at local level • The Convention: different levels of delegate selection; corruption over time • Petition: used mostly at local level; some states use for minor/third party candidates

  3. 5. The Direct Primary An intra-party election – held within a party to pick party’s candidates for general election • Closed primary: only declared party members can vote • Open primary: any qualified voter can cast a ballot • Runoff primary: ten states require absolute majority (rather than plurality) to carry primary; if no one wins, runoff primary between top two vote-getters • Nonpartisan primary • Presidential primary: choice of delegates or candidate preference

  4. Administration of Elections • Extent of federal control • Congress has the power to fix “[t]he Times, Places, and Manners of holding Elections” of members of Congress • As well as power to choose presidential electors, set date for casting electoral votes, regulate other aspects of presidential election process • Secret ballots and voting machines in federal elections • Protect the right to vote: Help America Vote Act 2002 • Date set to avoid Sundays and first day of the month – “Tuesday after the first Monday” • Early and absentee voting • Coattail Effect

  5. Precincts, Polling Places, Casting the Ballot • Precinct: voting district • Polling place: place where the voters who live in a precinct actually vote • Ballot: device by which voter registers a choice in an election • Australian • Office-Group • Party-Column • Sample • Bedsheet • Automated voting • Lever • Electronic Data Processing • Vote-by-mail • Online voting

  6. issues raised by campaign spending • See table on page 197 – what factors may account for the rise in per voter spending over the years? • Reasons for increase: • Radio and television time • Professional campaign managers and consultants • Newspaper advertisements • Pamphlets • Buttons • Posters and bumper stickers • Office rent • Polls • Data processing • Mass mailings • Web sites • Travel • Amount spent on races depends on: office involved, incumbent, opposition, availability of campaign funds

  7. Sources of funding PRIVATE PUBLIC Major source of funds • Small contributors • Only about 10% people of voting age ever make contributions • Wealthy individuals and families • Candidates • Various non-party groups (PACS) • Temporary organizations: formed for immediate purpose of campaign (fundraising) • Candidates can also choose to receive public financing • Subsidy: grant of money, usually from government (federal state treasuries) • Public funding has been most important at presidential level • Preconvention campaign • National conventions • Presidential election • Requires matching funds, eligibility and limitations

  8. Federal election commission • Administers all federal law dealing with campaign finance • Created by Congress 1974 – independent agency in executive branch; 6 members appointed by President with Senate confirmation • Finance laws are strongly worded and detailed but they are not very well enforced • Underfunded and understaffed • Areas of concern: • Require timely disclosure of finance data • Place limits on campaign contributions • Place limits on campaign expenditures • Provide public funding for several parts of presidential election process

  9. Political Action Committees • Neither corporations nor labor unions can contribute to candidate running for federal office – political action committees can • Types of PACS • Political arms of special interest groups • “unconnected committees” • Contributions from members or from public • “bundle” • Limitations

  10. Limits on Expenditures • Buckley v. Valeo, 1976 • Court struck down limits by FECA amendments of 1974 based on guarantees of freedom of expression • Threw out: • Limitations on expenditures by candidates running for House and Senate • Limitations how much of own money can spend • No person or group could spend more than $1000 on behalf of federal candidate without permission • Hard vs. Soft Money contributions • BCRA 2002

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