How much does the average citizen know about the Presidential nomination process? Honestly, not much, or so I've learned from talking to peers. It seems they only really know it happens, and that they vote at their scheduled time. Half of them don't even know when that is, they just know it is some time in May.
This scares me. As much as this can seem like a pointless season of politics, where people are just yelling at each other and kissing babies, the outcome of this election will have a huge impact on the outcome of the Presidential election.
Let's break it down.
Democrats and Republicans have their own systems for voting during this nomination process. They also each have a different amount of delegates to win.
Democrats have 4,765 delegates, and a candidate needs a total of 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. (Democrats also have something called super-delegates, which are leaders who can pick between the candidates freely, even if their choice is not what their state voted for. There are approximately 717 of them.)
Republicans have 2,472 delegates, and a candidate needs a total of 1,237 delegates to win the nomination.
There are multiple types of voting, called primaries and caucuses.
Primaries occur through a secret ballot, and there are two types:
1. Closed Primary means you can vote for any candidate that is in your registered party.
2. Open Primary means that you can vote for any candidate from either political party, regardless of what you are registered as.
There are also different ways states run their primaries:
1. Mail-In: Residents in the state are mailed their ballot, then they fill out the ballot and can either mail it back, or find a ballot drop off location in their town. (Libraries and banks are common places to find these.)
2. Electronic Ballot: This is an electronic system used at a polling location. You will go into a booth to vote privately and you will use a machine that counts your vote for you.
3. Paper Ballot: This a paper ballot given to you at a polling location. You fill out your ballot in ink and then turn it in, where it will go on to be counted.
Caucuses are the other process, which work differently for Democrats and Republicans. (This also can have varying rules, depending on your state's laws. Make sure to look up the caucus rules ahead of time.)
Democratic Caucus: You arrive at your caucus location, you then go to the area assigned for who you are voting for. If you are undecided, you will be in a different section. The groups will then try to convince the undecided voters to pick one way or the other. After that process, the people are counted in their groups.
Republican Caucus: You arrive at your caucus location, and you then go to the area assigned for who you are voting for. If you are undecided, you will be in a different section. The groups will then try to convince the undecided voters to pick one way or the other. After that process, the voters cast their secret ballots to be counted.
Now that you know how this process works, you can find the schedule of primaries and caucuses here.
Remember to write down the date you get to vote—and go fulfill your civic duty!
