What Is the Role of the Primary Election?
The American government is a highly complex and nuanced system designed to ensure cooperation and debate between the three branches of government as well as political parties. Even in a particular party, differences of opinion do occur. The election process is how the American people decide who leads us. The primary election is a step in that process.
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Definition of a Primary Election
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The Federal Election Commission defines a primary as an election held before a general election in which a political party chooses its nominee for a particular office, or chooses the delegates to choose a nominee. These elections are typically held statewide and may be for a state or a national campaign nominee. The primary election is an integral part of the election process.
Open vs. Closed Primary
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The federal government guarantees citizens' right to vote in elections. However, it is up to each state to define the process by which the elections are regulated. According to FairVote, there are two main types of primary election, closed and open. An open primary is open to any registered voter within the state. A closed primary is limited to registered members of the political party that is voting for its nominee or delegate. It is up to each state's legislature to decide the primary format.
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Super Tuesday
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With more than 20 states holding primaries, Super Tuesday is a major event during the primary election season. Usually held in either February or March, Super Tuesday has major influences on the rest of the campaign season. It is an important day for both major political parties.
According to The New York Times, on Feb. 5, 2008, 2,084 delegates were available for the Democratic nominee for president and 1,081 delegates available for the Republican nominee, a huge amount. Especially considering 2,117 delegates were required to secure the Democratic nomination and 1,191 delegates were required for the Republican nomination.
Primary vs. Caucus
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In a primary election, a political party's nominee is voted on for the general election. A caucus, however, does not have a vote. A caucus generally implies a closed meeting of people with the same political party deciding on a candidate.
The most notable caucus is that of Iowa. The Iowa caucus influences campaigns as it is a first stop for many national political campaigns.
New Hampshire Primary
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Traditionally, the first primary of the United States presidential race is held in New Hampshire. Due to the massive amount of attention from the media, the New Hampshire primary can have long-term impacts on a nominee's campaigns. Though the state only has 30 delegates for the Democratic Party and 14 for the Republican Party, the amount of coverage ensures national exposure for the winners of the primary.
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References
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