Winning Office

-Elections have two important parts

1. Nomination 2. Campaign -Nomination Process Must have partys backing to run for office (only one person from each major party) -Campaigning Candidates travel the country and try to get elected

Nominating Process -Caucus -a meeting of party leaders to name candidates -Convention -meeting of party representatives (delegates) to name candidates State and national levels -Primary Elections

-special election held by party members to determine candidates

For major elections See who the people will support

Primary Elections
-Open Primary
-primary where any voter can help chose candidates Do not have to be a member of that political party -Closed Primary -primary where only party members are allowed to vote -Closed are most often used to protect the partys nominees Do not want non-members to select weaker candidates

Presidential Candidates

-selected by a combination of all three nominating processes

-caucuses Political parties use caucuses and primary elections in many different states to determine who the national candidate will be

-primaries
-National convention

Party officially announces who Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates will be

Endorsements
-using a famous person to support a candidate If voters like the person endorsing the candidate, they might vote for that person

Advertising
-using the media to campaign Mold the candidates image -primary method of campaigning -negative advertising -- Process of using advertisements that focus on the faults and shortcomings of your opponent rather than your goals Mudslinging Allows people to attack their opponent without giving them an immediate opportunity to respond

Canvassing -person to person campaigning Travel through neighborhoods asking for votes and taking polls

Get information to public

Grassroots -campaign trail Mapping where to travel to receive the most votes

Other Methods -symbolism Using American icons to mold image

-generalizations
Generalized statements about to reach out to more people -bandwagon Everyone else is doing it

Public Funding
-Presidential Candidates get government funding for their campaigns
Individuals can donate $3 on their income taxes - one general fund -equal funding Presidential Election Campaign fund -Party can spend extra on behalf of candidates

Can donate soft $ to political party, then party can spend it on the election

Private Funding
-private funding is limited in most cases
-candidate can spend any amount of their own money Advantage to the rich -individuals can donate $1,000 -PAC-- Groups that are formed in order to raise money for candidates running for office---they are limited to a 5,000 donation to an individual candidate Political Action Committee - interest groups give money to candidates -campaign finance reform Try to keep candidates from buying elections

Polling Places

-Polling Places
-precinct based Local places where voting actually happens on Election Day -Usually in schools, town halls, public places -open early and close late

General Elections
-Elections are controlled by the local

Board of Elections

Controlled by the states (reserved) -General Election held November--1st Tuesday after 1st Monday All House seats, 1/3 of Senate seats, state and local leaders, President, issues -Plurality---winning the most votes -majority---getting more than half of the votes -most popular votes (plurality) wins most elections -majority of electoral votes determine the winner of the Presidency 270 electoral votes

Voting on Issues

-Initiatives
-method where citizens propose a bill through a petition and place it on the ballot for a general election vote New laws, amendments, school bonds, local issues

-Referendums
-method of public approval for a proposed bill where the legislature temporarily passes a bill until the public is given a chance to approve or disapprove the bill

Casting Your Vote

-must go to the polling place

-I.D. is checked against list of registered voters Prove you are registered to vote at that polling place -cast your vote paper ballots

lever machines
punch cards computer -you may encounter an exit poll Ask how you voted to predict early returns (can influence voting)

Types of Votes

-Straight Ticket
-voting only for one political party -Split Ticket -voting for candidates from either party

-Absentee Ballot
For citizens who cannot be at the polls on election day; must request them early and return by mail -Write-In Votes Usually for third parties

Special Kinds of Elections

-Referendums
Voting on issues -Initiatives Voting on issues -Recounts Number of votes disputed Method of voting disputed -Run-Offs Determines the winner when there is no clear majority -Recalls Citizens can vote to remove a public official from office