Civics 101
Elections
- Candidate Elections
- Primary = candidates compete for their political party’s nomination
- A political party selects one candidate to represent the party in the general election
- Held in the winter, spring, or summer – depending on the state
- Most states hold primary elections, but some hold caucuses
- Primary election = vote by secret ballot to select a party’s candidate
- Closed primary = only party members can participate
- Open primary = non-members of a party can participate
- Caucus = meeting of party members to discuss and vote on which candidate should represent the party
- Primary election = vote by secret ballot to select a party’s candidate
- Top-two primary = all candidates from all parties compete for two spots in the general election
- The two candidates in the general election could be from the same party, different parties, or no party
- General election = candidates compete for political office
- All voters select one candidate to serve in office
- Candidates from multiple parties or no party compete
- Note: some general elections allow for multiple winners
- Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
- Some states allow early voting
- All voters select one candidate to serve in office
- Video: Political Party Primary Elections vs. Caucuses
- Primary = candidates compete for their political party’s nomination
- Issue Elections
- Referendum = citizens vote to accept or reject a law passed by a legislature
- Only some state and local governments allow for referendums
- Legislative referendum = the legislature decides to put the law on the ballot
- Popular referendum = citizens use a petition to put laws passed by the legislature on the ballot
- Initiative = citizens vote on proposed news laws or amendments to their state constitution
- Only some state governments allow for referendums
- If a petition receives enough signatures, a proposition (prop) is put on the ballot for voters to accept or reject
- Referendum = citizens vote to accept or reject a law passed by a legislature
- Election Logistics
- Election formats
- Plurality = the candidate with the most votes wins
- Majority = the candidate with a majority wins
- If there is not a majority, a next step is required
- Could a run-off election between the top candidates only
- For the Electoral College system, the House of Representatives chooses the winner
- If there is not a majority, a next step is required
- Electoral college = an indirect system of electing the president in which citizens vote for electors (popular vote) and the electors choose the president (electoral vote)
- Timing of elections
- Presidential election = held every four years (always even numbered years)
- President and vice president are elected as well as all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of Senators
- State and local offices may also be elected
- Video: U.S. Constitution and Presidential Elections
- Midterm election = occurs in the even numbered years in which there is not a presidential election
- All member of the House of Representatives are elected as well as one-third of Senators
- State and local offices may also be elected
- Off-year election = occur in odd-numbered years
- State and local offices may be elected
- Special elections
- Recall = an election that allows citizens to vote to decide if a politician is removed from office before the end of his/her term
- If a petition to recall a politician receives enough signatures, a recall election will be held
- Only possible in some states
- A special election can be held at any time to fill an office that is vacated by a politician who resigns, is removed, or dies before the end of his/her term
- Recall = an election that allows citizens to vote to decide if a politician is removed from office before the end of his/her term
- Presidential election = held every four years (always even numbered years)
- Election formats
