PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONSELECTIONS

FROM CAMPAIGN FROM CAMPAIGN

TOTO

THE WHITE HOUSETHE WHITE HOUSE

.

I.I. The Nominating ProcessThe Nominating Process

A.A. ImportanceImportance1.1. Define: The naming of those who will seek Define: The naming of those who will seek

officeoffice2.2. Impact on the right to voteImpact on the right to vote

Two-party systemTwo-party system One-party constituenciesOne-party constituencies

B. Five categories of nominationsB. Five categories of nominations

1.1. Self-announcementSelf-announcement Oldest formOldest form Ross Perot / 1992 as Ross Perot / 1992 as

an examplean example

Categories of Nominations Categories of Nominations (cont’d)(cont’d)

2.2. CaucusCaucus Group of like-Group of like-

minded people who minded people who make the selectionmake the selection

Problem: a few Problem: a few influential influential individuals are individuals are making the decisionmaking the decision

Used very little todayUsed very little today

Categories of Nominations Categories of Nominations (cont’d)(cont’d)

3.3. ConventionConvention Delegates selected at the Delegates selected at the

local levellocal level All major party All major party

presidential nominees presidential nominees chosen this way since chosen this way since 18321832

Party bosses gained Party bosses gained control at local level of control at local level of delegate selectiondelegate selection

Direct primaries in most Direct primaries in most statesstates

Categories of Nominations Categories of Nominations (cont’d)(cont’d)

4.4. Direct PrimaryDirect Primary Election held within Election held within

the partythe party Two formsTwo forms

• Closed primaryClosed primary

• Open primaryOpen primary

4. Primary4. Primary Types:Types: Direct PrimaryDirect Primary

– Closed primaryClosed primary– Open primaryOpen primary

Offered as an improvement to the Boss Offered as an improvement to the Boss system (163)system (163)– More democratic because the More democratic because the

candidates were indirectly chosen by candidates were indirectly chosen by the voters. the voters.

Criticism of the Primary SystemCriticism of the Primary System--low turnoutlow turnout

-public infighting among party candidates-public infighting among party candidates-name recognition plays too big of a role-name recognition plays too big of a role-Early states have a disproportionate impact -Early states have a disproportionate impact on the party nominees while others are on the party nominees while others are virtually shut out of the process. virtually shut out of the process.

-2008 democrats are-2008 democrats are an exception an exception

Categories of Nominations Categories of Nominations (cont’d)(cont’d)

5.5. Nominating petitionsNominating petitions• Local electionsLocal elections

II. Role of II. Role of ConventionsConventions

A.A. Narrow the final selection Narrow the final selection of the presidentof the president

1.1. RepublicanRepublican

2.2. DemocratDemocrat

B.B. Determine party platformDetermine party platform

C.C. Create party unityCreate party unity

III.III. General ElectionsGeneral Elections

First Tuesday after the First Tuesday after the first Monday of first Monday of November in even November in even numbered years.numbered years.

All matters relating to All matters relating to the national election the national election are dealt with in the are dealt with in the laws of the Stateslaws of the States

GENERAL ELECTIONGENERAL ELECTION Mid Term ElectionMid Term Election Every 4 years a Presidential electionEvery 4 years a Presidential election Run by States administered by City Run by States administered by City

ClerkClerk 51 Separate Elections51 Separate Elections 2323rdrd Amendment Amendment

Stephanie C. Kelly, City Clerk

Secret ballotSecret ballot Prevent voter Prevent voter

intimidationintimidation

Absentee BallotAbsentee Ballot

You can get one from the City ClerkYou can get one from the City Clerk Used by:Used by:

– ElderlyElderly– HandicappedHandicapped– SickSick– College StudentsCollege Students– Military PersonnelMilitary Personnel– Sent in the MailSent in the Mail

Public FundingPublic Funding Only in the Presidential Only in the Presidential ElectionElection

Where does the Money Come Where does the Money Come From?From?

– Do you want $3 of your Do you want $3 of your federal tax to go to the federal tax to go to the Presidential Election Presidential Election Campaign Fund?Campaign Fund?

» YesYes» No No

As a U.S. taxpayer, you are As a U.S. taxpayer, you are asked to make this choice asked to make this choice when you fill out your 1040 when you fill out your 1040 federal income tax return. federal income tax return.

This does not reduce the This does not reduce the amount of your refund!amount of your refund!

1040 EZ Federal Income Tax1040 EZ Federal Income Tax

What is the Cash For?What is the Cash For?

For the primary and General ElectionsFor the primary and General Elections If the candidates accept the public funds, they If the candidates accept the public funds, they

can not accept any more private moneycan not accept any more private money In the last election neither candidate accepted the In the last election neither candidate accepted the

moneymoney

ElectionsElections STATE OF MICHIGAN 2008STATE OF MICHIGAN 2008 November 6, 2012 - General November 6, 2012 - General

Election Day - polls open Election Day - polls open 6:30am - 7:30pm  6:30am - 7:30pm    

Must be registered by Must be registered by October 12, October 12, 2012, 5pm2012, 5pm  

IV. Precincts and Polling PlacesIV. Precincts and Polling Places

Precincts – a voting district. Usually 500 to 1,000 voters.Precincts – a voting district. Usually 500 to 1,000 voters. Polling Place – where the voters who live in a precinct Polling Place – where the voters who live in a precinct

actually voteactually vote

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

http://www.history.com/videos/the-electoral-college#the-electoral-college

V.V. Electoral CollegeElectoral College

A.A. The ElectorsThe Electors Equal to the number of Equal to the number of

congressmen (senate & congressmen (senate & house)house)

State leg. Decides method State leg. Decides method for choosing electors for choosing electors (popular election in all (popular election in all states since 1860)states since 1860)

““winner-take-all” systemwinner-take-all” system

Electoral College (cont’d)Electoral College (cont’d)

Electors meet at their state Electors meet at their state capital on the first Monday capital on the first Monday after the second Wednesday after the second Wednesday in December to cast votesin December to cast votes

Vote separately for Pres. And Vote separately for Pres. And vice pres.vice pres.

Electors are pledged to their Electors are pledged to their candidate (not by law)candidate (not by law)

Just Who Are TheseJust Who Are These“Electors”?“Electors”?

These are the people that actually vote for These are the people that actually vote for president president

They are party loyalists in a particular state that They are party loyalists in a particular state that are rewarded for their service by being allowed to are rewarded for their service by being allowed to officially vote in December for Presidentofficially vote in December for President

Each state party selects a panel of electors that Each state party selects a panel of electors that will be ready to vote if their candidate wins the will be ready to vote if their candidate wins the popular vote in that particular state. Michigan will popular vote in that particular state. Michigan will have 17 from each party.have 17 from each party.

Electoral College (cont’d)Electoral College (cont’d)

North Carolina has 15North Carolina has 15 Votes are sent by registered Votes are sent by registered

mail to Pres. Of the Senatemail to Pres. Of the Senate Open & count on Jan. 6 Open & count on Jan. 6

Electoral College (cont’d)Electoral College (cont’d)

B.B. Getting electedGetting elected Majority of electors Majority of electors

needed to win election needed to win election 270 of 538 (need to 270 of 538 (need to know)know)

If no one candidate If no one candidate receives a majority, the receives a majority, the House of Reps. Decides House of Reps. Decides from top 3 candidates.from top 3 candidates.

Senate will select V.P.Senate will select V.P.

Current Projections

Electoral CollegeElectoral College (cont’d) (cont’d)

C.C. Major DefectsMajor Defects

1.1. Electoral vote will Electoral vote will contradict the contradict the popular votepopular vote

Happened 4 times: Happened 4 times: 1824, 1876, 1888, 1824, 1876, 1888, 20002000

2.2. ““faithless electors”faithless electors” In most states, In most states,

electors are not electors are not required by law to required by law to vote for popular vote for popular vote winnervote winner

Has happened 14x Has happened 14x but has not effected but has not effected an election (yet)an election (yet)

Electoral CollegeElectoral College (cont’d) (cont’d)

Electoral CollegeElectoral College (cont’d)(cont’d)3.3. House decides non-House decides non-

majority outcomesmajority outcomes Last time 1824; almost in Last time 1824; almost in

1968, 20001968, 2000 Three objections to Three objections to

election by Houseelection by House- voting done by statevoting done by state- State may lose voteState may lose vote- Majority of states Majority of states

requiredrequiredNot seen as democraticNot seen as democratic

2000 Election Results2000 Election Results NationNation

GoreGore 50,996,11650,996,116

BushBush 50,456,16950,456,169

FloridaFlorida

GoreGore 2,907,0072,907,007

BushBush 2,907,5442,907,544

BuchananBuchanan 20,294 20,294

NaderNader 96,89696,896

2000 Election Results2000 Election Results Importance of Importance of

FloridaFlorida

GoreGore 267267

BushBush 246246

FloridaFlorida 25 25

2000 2000 Election Election ResultsResults

2000 Election Results2000 Election Results

2000 Election Results2000 Election Results

2000 Election Results2000 Election Results

Legal Battle Over FloridaLegal Battle Over Florida

Gore/LibermanGore/Liberman

537 Vote lead for Bush537 Vote lead for Bush

undervotesundervotes

OvervotesOvervotes

Florida Supreme CourtFlorida Supreme Court Orders Orders a recount based upon “the a recount based upon “the clear intention of the voter”clear intention of the voter”

Gore Stands to Pick-up more than Gore Stands to Pick-up more than 537 votes in Palm Beach alone537 votes in Palm Beach alone

Bush Administration appeals to Bush Administration appeals to U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court

Court Rules in Court Rules in Bush v. Gore Bush v. Gore (2000)(2000) that recount can not be that recount can not be done equally, considering each done equally, considering each county was using different county was using different standards (14th Amendment)standards (14th Amendment)

Also, not enough timeAlso, not enough time

No Recall allowed No Recall allowed

5 to 4 Decision5 to 4 Decision

Bush Wins PresidencyBush Wins Presidency

Electoral Electoral CollegeCollege (cont’d)(cont’d)

D.D. Proposed reformsProposed reforms

1.1. District planDistrict plan• Like congressional Like congressional

electionselections• 2 at-large electors2 at-large electors• 1 per district1 per district• Strength – more accurate Strength – more accurate

reflection of popular votereflection of popular vote• Weakness – doesn’t Weakness – doesn’t

guarantee winner of guarantee winner of popular vote wins electionpopular vote wins election

• Gerrymandering – Gerrymandering – political parties try to political parties try to control Cong. Dists. control Cong. Dists.

Electoral CollegeElectoral College (cont’d)(cont’d)

2.2. Proportional planProportional plan• Each candidate Each candidate

receives a proportion receives a proportion of the electoral voteof the electoral vote

• # of electors = # of electors = proportion of voteproportion of vote

• Strength – more Strength – more representative of representative of popular vote; no more popular vote; no more faithless electorsfaithless electors

• Still no guarantee Still no guarantee popular vote winner popular vote winner wins election; may wins election; may effect two party effect two party systemsystem

Electoral Electoral College College (cont’d)(cont’d)

4.4. National bonus planNational bonus plan• Keeps much of current system, Keeps much of current system,

including winner take all including winner take all aspectaspect

• 102 “bonus” electoral votes 102 “bonus” electoral votes would be awarded to the would be awarded to the winner of popular votewinner of popular vote

• New majority # - 321New majority # - 321• If no majority; run-off election If no majority; run-off election

between top 2 candidatesbetween top 2 candidates• No electors; automatic voteNo electors; automatic vote• Almost guarantees winner of Almost guarantees winner of

popular vote wins electionpopular vote wins election