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Campaigning and Fundraising
Candidates Debate and campaign via internet, ads, campaign, and direct mail. Fundraising is provided by different organizations and donors for each candidate. They declare their candidacy and campaign in key states up two years before the primaries. -
Caucuses and Primaries
Open Primaries- A Primary election that doesn't require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates.
Closed Primaries- Limited to registered voters who must claim party affilitation in order to vote.
Semi-Closed - open to registered party members and unaffiliated voters. State election rules determine whether unaffiliated voters may make their choice of party primary in the voting booth or in public by registering with a party on Election day. -
Caucuses and Primaries Cont.
Semi- Open - Any registered voter may participate in any party primary but when they identify themselves to election officials they must request a party’s specific ballot.
Blanket- Voters are allowed to pick candidates for each office without regard for party lines.
Run- Off - They are between two candidates who fell short of the percentage needed of votes. -
Political Party Convention
Party Delegates attend their national conventions to cast their votes for a candidate.Candidate with the majority of delegate votes win that party's nomination for president. VP candidates are chosen by the presidential nominee and are nominated at the national convention. -
Election Day
Registered voters now cast their ballot for their presidential nominee. They do this by voting for members of the electoral college to cast their vote for president for the public. Voters do not have to be affilated with a party to vote. These voters make up the popular vote. -
Vote of the Electoral College
This is the vote that ultimately decides the presidential nominee winner. A nominee needs 270 electoral votes in order to when the presidential nomination. In most states there is a winner take all system where the most electoral votes for a certain candidate sweep the state and take all of the electoral votes. A nominee can still lose the popular vote and win the election because of this, but it is rare.
