2. Chapter 7 Elections

3. N OMINATIONS – THE F IRST S TEP Before the election can take place, candidates must be nominated Nomination – the naming of candidates who will seek office After candidates are nominated, the general election is held

4. N OMINATING AND E LECTING A C ANDIDATE

5. S ELF -A NNOUNCEMENT The candidate simply makes an announcement of his/her intention to seek public office (could have a friend do it, too)

6. C ONVENTION Public meeting of party activists to energize voters and choose a party candidate

7. C ONVENTION Now only used by minor parties (like the Libertarian Party shown below)

8. C AUCUS 1800s - originally a private meeting of party leaders – no records kept or journalists allowed The appearance of corruption led to reforms

9. C AUCUS Now - a public meeting of any party members who wish to participate and debate

10. P RIMARY A public election held within a political party to choose the party’s nominee for office Open Primary – any eligible voters may vote Closed Primary – only registered party members may vote in their party’s primary Most common method in states today

11. T HE D IRECT P RIMARY Nonpartisan Primary Candidates are not identified by party labels Runoff Primary If a required majority is not met, the two people with the most votes run again Closed Primary Only declared party members can vote. Types of Direct Primaries Open Primary Any qualified voter can take part. Blanket Primary Qualified voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party

12. P RIMARIES A CROSS THE U NITED S TATES

13. P RECINCTS AND P OLLING P LACES Precincts A precinct is a voting district. Precincts are the smallest geographic units used to carry out elections. A precinct election board supervises the voting process in each precinct. Polling Places A polling place is where the voters who live in a precinct go to vote. It is located in or near each precinct. Polling places are supposed to be located conveniently for voters.

14. O FFICE -G ROUP AND P ARTY -C OLUMN B ALLOTS

15. V OTING M ACHINES AND I NNOVATIONS Electronic vote counting has been in use since the 1960s. Punch-card ballots are often used to cast votes. Vote-by-mail elections have come into use in recent years. Online voting is a trend that may be encountered in the near future.

16. I N C ASE Y OU C ARE

17. E LECTION Make a primary ballot out of a half-sheet of paper On your ballot, write down your choice for president of Sesame Street And now, announcing your candidates…

24. C HOOSE Y OUR C ANDIDATE