A2, Unit 3C - Elections and Voting

RESIT REVISION :
Elections and Voting :…read more

Election Process : Invisible
Primaries
· Invisible Primaries ­
· This is the period before the Primaries ­ starts pretty
much straight after the last election.
· There are three main aims of candidates during this
time ;
· Media Coverage ­ they want to achieve widespread
name recognition ­ to gather media airtime and
coverage.
­ They will want to present themselves to potential
voters (especially unknown candidates) Eg. Following
the 2008 election Sarah Palin wanted to strengthen her
foreign policy position ­ taking trips to India and Israel
in 2011.…read more

Election Process : Invisible
Primaries
· Endorsements ­ after the formal announcements ­
candidates will look to gather support from key
individuals. Eg. In the 2000 Democratic nomination
race ­ Al Gore made huge efforts to win over the super
delegate votes (key party members such as; governors,
mayors who are sent to the NPC to choose the party's
presidential candidate).
- They will also look to gain the support of influential
pressure groups. ­ thus will provide important
grassroots support in their campaign. Eg. 7 months
before the 2012 primary ­ Michele Bachmann spoke at
the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington.…read more

Election Process : Invisible
Primaries
· Finance ­ this could be seen as the most important
function of invisible primaries.
· They need to raise enough money to last them
throughout the presidential campaign. Eg. Ex-Iowa
governor Tom Vilsack had to pull out of the 2008
Democratic race because he wasn't able to raise
enough funds and couldn't finance his campaign.
· Candidates will look to court pressure groups and PACS
who will provide them will valuable funding.…read more

Election Process : Primaries and
caucuses
· Primaries and caucuses ­
· This is the first official stage of the election process ­
taking place between January and June of the election
year.
· Voters in each state vote for delegates to go to the
NPC and formally select the party's candidate. ­ Each
state is given delegates depending on population.
· Candidates who win the primaries/caucuses in a state
are given some or all of that state's delegates who
then pledge to vote for that candidate at the NPC.…read more

Election Process : Primaries and
caucuses
· Types of primaries :
· Open primaries ­ any registered voter can vote in
either the Republican/Democrat primary but not both
(regardless of their party affiliation). Eg. this is the case
in 16 states ­ including Texas.
· Advantages : increases participation, encourages
politicians to have wider appeal, usually moderate
voters ­ filtering extreme candidates and good
preparation for election.
· Disadvantages : can favour candidates with lots of
money and high media profile, voters may be ill-
informed.…read more