“INVISIBLE PRIMARY”

• Events leading up to the “primary season”; CPAC, Rep. Jim Clyburn’s fish fry as two examples
• Allows potential candidates to gauge whether to run

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY GUIDELINES; NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY GUIDELINES

• Informs the number of delegates needed for nomination
• Differences in processes between the two parties

NOMINATION

• Debates: start off with more candidates, stage shrinks as primaries continue as candidates drop out.
• Campaign events throughout primary/caucus states

SELECTION OF DELEGATES [PRIMARY VS. CAUCUS; PREFERENCE POLL ONLY]

• State Rules
• Dates of primary/caucus (ex. Iowa, NH, SC, NV take on added importance as the first 3 contests)

THE CONVENTION

• Site usually occurs in important state for electoral purposes (NC for R, WI for D)
• If one candidate meets threshold for delegates as outlined in the national party guidelines (see above), they will receive nomination formally during convention
• Primary opponents (typically) speak in support of party nominee, also show-cases young talent throughout the party, perhaps celebrities speak as well              
• Balloon Drop: occurs after nominee gives formal acceptance speech, can be great party-unifying moment (Reagan and Ford)                    

GENERAL ELECTION

• Campaign rallies: candidates go to states they need to win to secure the majority of electoral college votes (270).
• Debates: usually three debates with the first being the most viewed.
• Electors are normal citizens, anyone can apply to be an elector (of voting age)
  • Read more here: https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/electors
• States (except Nebraska and Maine) have winner-take-all competitions. Candidate who receives the most votes gets all electoral college votes appropriated to the state (based on population…Representatives + Senators).
• Election isn’t official until electors cast their vote. They don’t have to give their vote to the candidate their state voted for in some instances. Other states have laws binding the electors to the candidates that one the popular vote.
  • Congress then needs to certify the election in January
• In case of electoral tie, or failure for any candidate to secure 270 electoral votes, the election goes to the House.
  • Each STATE gets 1 vote. It is not an individual member vote. In theory, one party can have the majority of representatives, but the other party can win the presidential election if they control the majority of the states with representatives.
• In the meantime, there can be legal challenges to the legality of votes, voter practices, and state election laws.