Chapter 9

factors affecting voter population

-age population -eligible population -turnout

demographics and voting

-race -gender -age -marital status -socioeconomic status -region

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

direct primaries

A primary in which members of a party nominate its candidates by direct vote.

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

open vs closed primary

An open primary is a primary election in which any registered voter can vote in any party's primary. In a closed primary, only voters registered for the party which is holding the primary may vote. Plurality versus majority

Nomination Petitions

The certain number of signatures of registered voters that candidates must collect to qualify for inclusion on a ballot

Help America Vote Act of 2002

a federal law meant to reduce barriers to participation in elections

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted

plurality system

electoral process in which the candidate who polls more votes than any other candidate is elected

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

established the main rules for campaign finance today and created the Federal Election Commission

party convention

held every four years by each of the major political parties to nominate a presidential & vp candidate

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

primary elections

the process by which a candidate is placed on a ballot for an election

National Voter Registration Act

this act passed in 1993 and frequently called the "Motor Vehicle Act" is a piece of legislation that includes a provision that makes it possible to register to vote when applying for or renewing your drivers license.

runoff primaries

voters choose between the to vote-getters from the first election