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Learn about the steps in the U.S. election process, from candidate announcements to electoral college votes and inauguration ceremonies. Discover the significance of caucuses, primaries, conventions, and the general elections. Gain insight into the Electoral College system and the complexities of nominations. Delve into the details of the inauguration ceremony and the history behind presidential transitions. Explore the impact of campaign strategies and the influence of major election milestones. This comprehensive guide offers valuable information on the key stages of the American electoral system. 8 Relevant
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Steps in the Election Process • Announcement • State Caucuses or Primaries • Conventions • Nomination 4.5. Campaigning 5. General Election 6. Electoral College Votes 7. Inauguration
1. Announcement • A person decides to run for office and tells the public about it • TV • Radio • Speech • Political Events • Must be qualified • Natural born US citizen • Resident for 14 years • 35+ years old
2. Caucuses and Primaries • Caucus- a local meeting where registered party members gather to vote for their preferred party candidate • Series of small meetings designed to select candidates and delegates to attend the National Convention • Used in only 14 states and Washington DC • Primaries- intra-party elections • Political parties hold elections in states to select a candidate for their political party • State regulates these elections to stop fraud and manipulation • These don’t actually allow people to vote directly for a candidate…they’re voting for who they want their state delegates to vote for at the national nominating convention
2 main types of primaries Closed Primaries • Voters can only vote for the party they are registered with • Only people registered with the political party can vote • Can only vote for your declared party Open Primaries • Any qualified voter can vote • Voter can determine which party they are voting for New York has a semi-open primary- a registered voter doesn’t need to publicly declare which primary they’re voting in before entering the voting booth. When they identify themselves to election officials, they must request a party’s specific ballot
First Primary/Caucus • New Hampshire holds the first primary (2/9/16), Iowa holds the first caucus (2/1/16) • These get tons of media attention • Candidates focus on these states • Establish a front runner, gives candidates momentum • States used to wait as long as possible to hold their primaries/caucuses because the longer you wait, the greater input you have on the nomination, but states have recently begun frontloading their primaries and caucuses • New York’s primary date is set for April 19, 2016 • https://youtu.be/_95I_1rZiIs
Super Tuesday • Refers to the Tuesday in February of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections • This cycle, it would be Tuesday March 1 as of right now, with 13 primaries/caucuses happening • Traditionally, candidates that do well on this day win their party’s nomination and do very well in the general election
3. Conventions • Major-party presidential nominees are selected • President and VP are chosen Steps • County Convention (select delegates for State) • State Convention (select delegates for National) • National Convention (delegates vote for nominee)
4. Nomination • Nomination- party’s official endorsement of candidate to run for office • Nomination is the major function of political parties • To win a party’s nomination, a candidate must win the majority of delegates’ support at the National Convention • Plurality- the most votes • Majority- one more than half the votes
5. General Election • 1st Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November every fourth year (Congressional elections- even numbered years) • Voters cast their votes- popular vote • Federal government sets dates, time, and secret ballots • State government decides how to administer the election • Electronic, mail, online, paper/pencil • Restricts population of voting districts/precincts to ensure that elections are held in an orderly manner • Absentee voting- covers those who are too ill/disabled to get to polls, those who expect to be away, and those in the armed forces
How the Electoral College Works • https://youtu.be/_95I_1rZiIs
Problems with the Electoral College • https://youtu.be/7wC42HgLA4k
6. Electoral College Votes • Electoral college is set up in Article II of the Constitution • Number of electors in each state is equal to the number of representatives and senators in each state • NY: 2 Senators + 27 Representatives = 29 electoral votes • HoR is capped at 435 members. Senate is set at 100. DC gets 3 votes. So... you need 270 electoral votes or more to win the presidency (435+100+3=538)/2 = 269 • Most states have a winner-takes-all system whatever candidate gets the most (not the majority of) votes in the state gets all of it’s electoral votes • It is possible to lose the popular vote and win the electoral college
7. Inauguration • The ceremony in which a new President takes office • Happens on January 20 following an election year • Prior to the 20th amendment, a new president wasn’t inaugurated until March 4 (when the Constitution first took effect in 1789) • The only element of inauguration required by the Constitution is the oath of office—everything else has happened by precedent/tradition • “I <name> do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States”
