Elections, Voting, and Voter Behavior outlines the process of nominating and electing candidates in the United States. There are four main methods for nominating candidates: caucuses, conventions, direct primaries, and petitions. Primary elections allow members of political parties to vote for their preferred nominee, while the general election is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Voter behavior is influenced by demographics like age, education level, income, and religion, as well as feelings of political efficacy. Historically, voting rights have expanded to include more groups, but some citizens still do not vote due to issues like lack of registration, indifference, or a sense that their vote does not matter.

1. Elections, Voting, and Voter Behavior

2. OutlineNominating CandidatesCaucuses & ConventionsPrimary ElectionsPetitionNominating Presidential CandidatesElections and CampaignsRegulating ElectionsFinancing ElectionsHard & Soft MoneyPresidential ElectionsVoting Rights and Voting LawsHistoryLawsVoter BehaviorInfluences on Voting DecisionsVoters and Nonvoters

3. Nominating CandidatesNominate: select a candidate to run for office4 methods for being on the ballot:CaucusConventionDirect primarypetition

4. The Caucus & ConventionCaucus: party leaders meet and decide who will run for officeNominating convention: public meeting of party members to choose candidatesParty bosses: influential party leaders

5. Primary ElectionDirect primary election: several candidates from the same party run against each other for the nominationTwo types of primary:Closed primary: limited to registered members of political partiesOpen primary: any registered voter

6. Nomination by PetitionPetition: piece of paper that states a person wishes to run for office, a number of signatures is required to be considered.The more important the office, the more signatures needed

7. 2008 Presidential PrimariesGeneral Election

8. Elections & CampaignsRight to vote=basic to democracyElection DayRegulating Elections:State v. Federal lawsElection dates (1st Tuesday, following the 1st Monday in November)Help America Vote Act (2002)

9. Financing ElectionsCampaigns require lots of money:OfficesCampaign workersAdvertisementsWebsitesWhere does the money come from?Private donors (expect favors)Public money ($3 contribution on income tax)

10. Campaign Finance LawsPolitical Action Committee (PAC): a political organization formed by special interest groups such as companies and labor and professional organizations. Examples: National Rifle Association (NRA), The American Medical Association (AMA), etc.

11. Hard & Soft MoneyHard MoneyRegulated by lawsMoney raised and spent by candidate themselvesSoft MoneyNo real lawsMoney raised and spent on “party building” activities2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act: The goal was to ban soft money, however, the result was that by the 2004 election, politicians had found a loophole by setting up Section 527 organizations. Much like PACs except these groups were not regulated.

12. Presidential ElectionsElectoral CollegeJanuary 6th (Congress counts votes)Election night news coveragePopular vote: total number of votes cast by citizensElectoral vote: number of votes that states have in the electoral college

13. Electoral College Map

14. Voting RightsAfrican Americans were not considered citizens until 1868Women couldn’t vote until 1920Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924Youth vote was extended in 1971Suffragist: people who supported the right to vote for women

15. Voting Rights LawsLawFifteenth AmendmentVoting Rights Act of 1965Twenty Fourth AmendmentInterferenceGrandfather clauseLiteracy testPoll tax

16. Voter BehaviorRegistered VotersWhy do some citizens vote in every election and some never vote?

17. Voter GeneralizationsDemocraticYounger voters

18. African-Americans

19. High school graduates