Elections

How are candidates selected?

• Nomination – selecting of candidates for officeHow?• Most states use a Direct Primary – an

election held within a party to pick one candidate for an office

closed primary – only registered party members can vote

open primary – any voter can vote

What are some other ways to make nominations?

• Caucus – a group of like-minded people meet to select candidates – as political parties grew, caucuses faded out – still used in places for local nominations in some areas ( New England)

• Convention – a meeting of party members

…other ways?• self-announcement – a person who

wants to run for office declares themselves as a candidate

-- oldest method – still used in some small town & rural levels

• petition – signatures of a certain required number of qualified voters- used on local level & usually required by state for minor party or independent candidates

….more elections stuff….

What level of gov is in charge of elections?elections are largely governed by state

laws, but some things, such as dates, are set by federal law

….some terms…precinct – voting districtpolling place – place where voters

actually vote – schools, firehouse…..ballot – device used to register votes

What is the Electoral College and how does it work? …or does it?......

•An indirect system of electing the presidentWhy?? ….. Founding fathers…… We know

best!

•Number of electors for each state equals # of reps & senators in Congress

Electoral Votes map

…subject to change every 10 years...WHY?Census - #s are redistributed according to population changes

All or nothin’, baby!!!•People cast vote ---- “popular vote”

•Candidate who wins popular vote in state wins all electoral votes for state

… but… what if they only win by a little bit??

……Doesn’t matter!! …..Winner takes all !!

…so, couldn’t someone win an election without winning the popular vote??????

…ah…funny you should ask…..

Election of 2000

What the heck happened????

popular vote % states won electoral votesGore 50,996,116 48 21 266Bush 50,456,169 48 30 271

…and the winner is……..

…. what happened in Florida????

Paper and Pencil Ballot

…many were disqualified if mistake & did not get chance to re-do if votes were tallied at county headquarters

...and the butterfly ballots in Palm Beach County…….

…. voting for Gore or Buchanan….?????

…interesting results………

Bush vs Gore•Gore wants re-count of Florida (25 electoral votes)•Florida Supreme court orders recount in some counties•Bush takes to Supreme Court

…. and the rest is history……..

…. OK, so…… any suggestions…..????Direct Election with Instant Runoff

Voting 

Proportional Allocation of Electoral Votes 

Direct Vote with Plurality Rule

Congressional District Method

National Bonus Plan

Binding Proposal

Direct Election with Instant Run-Off Voting

•voters rank preferences

•direct vote – with or w/out electoral college

•if no one has majority, lowest candidate eliminated & votes counted again

using second choice

•repeated until candidate has majority

•eliminates “spoiler” dynamic of third parties•would insure majority, nationwide winner

Proportional Allocation of Electoral Votes•splits each state’s electoral votes in accordance with popular vote percentages•may increase voter turnout & encourage campaigning in smaller states

•problems with how to divide single elector

Direct Vote with Plurality Rule

•abolish electoral college

•one person, one vote

•candidate with most votes is winner•does not insure majority winner

•does not eliminate spoiler dynamic of third parties•requires constitutional amendment

Congressional District Method

•divides electoral votes by district•does not address disproportional

problems with electoral college

•can cause redistricting problems (“Gerrymandering”)

National Bonus Plan•awards extra electoral votes as a bonus to the winner of the popular vote

Campaign Financing

Hard Money - money given directly to a candidate’s campaign by individuals, businesses, organizations, or interest groups

• Must be reported• Amount is limited• Campaign financing laws have become

more specific and more enforced 2002 – new regulations

Soft money - money indirectly given for a candidate’s campaign

• Given to a political party for “party building”

• Given to an interest group that endorses a candidate- ex – Individual gives money to NRA campaign fund NRA runs a TV ad endorsing McCain

• Is not reported or limited• “loopholes”

Question……………

Should campaign financing be limited so that each candidate has the same amount of money to spend?????

What do YOU think & why?????