Government & Politics Government & Politics

The Road to November…

http://and-still-i-persist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/election2008.jpg

• By definition, a By definition, a Primary Election Primary Election is an is an election held before the general election election held before the general election in which voters decide which of a party’s in which voters decide which of a party’s candidates will be the party’s nominee for candidates will be the party’s nominee for the general election.the general election.

• There are two types of Primary There are two types of Primary Elections…Elections…

www.newraleigh.com/images/uploads/vote_thumb.jpg

What is a Primary Election?

• OPEN:OPEN: voters may vote for candidates from voters may vote for candidates from any any party, do not have to be registered with party, do not have to be registered with political party a person is voting forpolitical party a person is voting for

• CLOSED: CLOSED: only people who have registered in only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates (encourages party loyalty)party’s candidates (encourages party loyalty)

Open vs. Closed Primary Elections

Characteristics: Primary Election

•Primary elections occur early in the election season

•Why? Phenomenon known as frontloading (states hold primaries early in calendar to capitalize on media attention)

•Example: New Hampshire, first primary of the season

Caucuses: What are they?

•By definition, a caucus is a meeting of party leaders to select candidates & elect convention delegates.

•Much like the primary election system, there are two types of caucuses

•Democratic •Republican (secret ballot)

•"Iowa Caucuses 101"

Democratic Caucus: Nebraska

•Saturday, February 9, 2008•Historically, Nebraska has always had a secret ballot vote for presidential candidates and delegates for the conventions.

•Terms to know:• A Precinct is as geographic political unit. • A Precinct Caucus is, by definition, politics at the neighborhood level.

What does the Nebraska Caucus do?

1. The precinct caucuses will determine the presidential preference of each precinct.

2. They will elect county delegates pledged to support the strongest presidential candidates.

3. County Delegates will then elect State Delegates who will in turn elected Nebraska’s National Convention Delegates.

4. The state-wide results of February 9, 2008 will bind Nebraska’s at large delegates at the 2008 National Convention.

How does it work?

1. Participants must register and must be a registered Democrat who resides in the Precinct.

2. A precinct leader will call the meeting to order and a chair of the caucus and a caucus secretary will be elected.

3. The chair will then recognize the Democratic Presidential Candidates who have asked to participate and divide the room into sections for support each candidate.

4. Candidate support groups will select a spokesman who will state the case for their candidate. People can then switch groups before a “Viability” determination will be taken.

How does it work?

5. If a Candidate does not have 15% of the participants in his group, that Candidate is eliminated as “not viable.” Then a re-alignment can occur in which anyone can switch groups.

6. When all the remaining Candidates are determined to be viable, the chair will allocate the Precinct Delegates to the viable candidates by strength of numbers present.

7. If a viable candidate does not get allocated any county delegates, that Candidate’s supporters may then join the groups with Delegates.

Now What?

1. Persons can campaign to be elected the County Delegates for that precinct for their candidate. Alternates may also be elected.

2. The results are reported to the State Party for final tabulation of the Nebraska Presidential Preferences

3. The Delegates will then convene in June 2008 County Convention to continue the delegate selection process.

Case Study: California 2008

•Should CA move primary election from March to June in 2008?

•August 2004, legislature passed a bill to move primary from March to June.

FACT:

•The 2008 primary election calendar consisted of 34 of 50 states holding their primary elections or caucuses on or before February 5th.

Pros:Pros:

reverse effects of frontloadingreverse effects of frontloading

increased voter participationincreased voter participation

Cons:

later primary date decreases influence on national scene, less media coverage

Why or Why Not?

What did California do?

•Moved California’s Primary Election to February 5, better known as “Super Tuesday”

•Why? In recent years, nominees have been chosen before March, making CA voter participation insignificant.

•The move is strategic, vying to make CA a major player in the Presidential nomination process.

Presidential Primary Calendar 2008Presidential Primary Calendar 2008

http://www.investortrip.com/images/election2008.jpg

Debate: National Primary Elections

•As more and more states move primaries and caucuses to February 5, the debate over national & regional primary elections heats up.

•What does this mean? Primaries/Caucuses held on ONE day in all 50 states.

Super Tuesday: February 5, 2008

The Morning After: Super Tuesday Analysis

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R49GDufwyJE/R6dIVx9rDiI/AAAAAAAAAJk/prunQJq8Khg/s1600/Super%2BTuesday.jpg