Electoral+Process+-+Primary+Phase


 * Primaries**


 * By Rebecca Chen, Benji Saccoccio, Tom Harris**

After a candidate announces his/her intentions on running in the election, the primary phase begins.

A __primary__ is an election that chooses the candidate of a specific party that will compete in the general election.There are two different types of primaries: open and closed. Political parties in individual states choose the process of how they want to pick the delegates that will cast votes for the candidates at the party's nominating convention. Each state and its party leadership decide the process, so every state's process may run differently. There is no national primary. State party organizations choose between some form of primary or caucus. However, primaries are mostly used.

An __open primary__ is open to all registered voters, regardless of the party they registered for; while a __closed primary__ is only for voters who registered for that specific party. For example, if it is a Democrat primary, only voters who are registered under Democrats can vote.

Direct primaries are generally held between January through June. On "__Super Tuesday__", about 22 states usually hold the presidential primary or caucus. Many states go through with a process known as __Front-Loading__, in which their primary date is moved forward in the year to attempt to increase its importance. New Hampshire is always the first primary.



__**Advantages and Disadvantages**__

Primaries are more democratic in that registered voters choose the state's delegates and they are less elitist than caucuses. On the other hand, primaries are more expensive because of polls or ballots. Additionally, voter turnout is often very low.

__**Blanket Primaries**__

A __blanket primary.__is a type of open primary, in where the names of all the candidates for all parties are on one ballot. The voter is allowed to vote for any candidate for each office, regardless of the party. For example, a voter can select a Democratic candidate for governor and a Republican candidate for senator.

__**Runoff Primaries**__

If no candidate wins the majority of the votes, the two candidates who receive the most votes run again. The winner among the two candidates gets to run in the general election.


 * __Key Terms__**

__Blanket Primary__: Type of open primary where names of all the candidates are on one ballot. Voters are not restricted to vote for only one party.

__Closed Primary:__ primary that is only for voters who registered for that specific party

__Open Primary:__ primary that is open to all registered voters, regardless of the party they registered for

__Primary____:__ election that chooses the candidate of a specific party that will compete in the general election.There are two different types of primaries: open and closed.

__Super Tuesday:__ Tuesday where about 22 states hold the presidential primary or caucus.

__Front-Loading__-The process of moving a primary date forward to attempt to increase its importance.

media type="youtube" key="_95I_1rZiIs" height="315" width="560" __**Quiz**__ 1.What is the purpose of a primary? a.To approve or disprove of a congressional bill b.To select a parties candidate for the general election. c.Impeaching a current officeholder d.A declaration of war

2.What is the difference between an open and closed primary? a.One is for the general election, one is for the gubernatorial election. b.Open primaries are in the fall, closed are in the spring c.Open primaries are for all, closed are only for the specific party d.Open primaries are only for the specific party, closed are for all

3.When does runoff election occur? a.If no candidate wins the majority of the vote b.If two candidates tie c.If there is more than 8 candidates running d.If nobody votes in the election

4.Who always holds the first state primary? a.Connecticut b.Wyoming c.Indiana d.New Hampshire

5.Are primary elections democratic or undemocratic? Why or why not?


 * __Works Cited __**

"Blanket Primary Law & Legal Definition." Blanket Primary Law & Legal Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. "Closed Primary Election Law & Legal Definition." Closed Primary Election Law & Legal Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012. "Open Primary Law & Legal Definition." Open Primary Law & Legal Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.