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Two guys in golf cart: 'You didn't get out and vote?' - 'Are you kidding me.....?'

10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Primaries, Caucuses

Posted by jennifercooper on March 1, 2016 in Listicles | 44 Views | Leave a response

http://cdn.totalcomputersusa.com/managed/uploads/sites/23/2016/02/pol-cartoon.jpg

By Jennifer Cooper
Contributing Writer

Less than fifty percent of eligible voters turn out to vote in their state’s primaries and caucuses. Is this because of voter indifference or because of misinformation? In the spirit of election season, here are some facts you didn’t know about primaries and caucuses:

1. When are they held?

Gif from madebyabvh/Tumbr
Gif from madebyabvh/Tumbr

All primaries/caucuses occur within the first six months of the election year.

2. Where are they held?

Photo from violet-and-grey/Tumblr
Gif from violet-and-grey/Tumblr

There are primaries in all states, as well as the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories, even though the territories don’t get electoral colleges in the general election.

3. What are open/closed primaries?

Photo from byleatellez/Tumblr
Photo from byleatellez/Tumblr

In an open primary, you can vote outside of your party. However, most states have closed primaries in which you have to vote for the candidates within your registered party.

4. What is the point of a primary?

Photo from organizedka0z/Tumblr
Photo from organizedka0z/Tumblr

The primaries/caucuses determine which candidate will represent the party in the general election.

5. What is Super Tuesday?

Photo from funkycodex/Tumblr
Photo from funkycodex/Tumblr

Super Tuesday is a Tuesday in March in which a lot of primaries occur. The actual date varies from year to year.

6. What is a caucus?

Photo from rafi-dangelo/Tumblr
Photo from rafi-dangelo/Tumblr

In a caucus, voters gather in a public forum and frequently debate and decide which candidate to put the group vote towards.

7. What is a primary?

Photo from leedotjpg/Tumblr
Photo from leedotjpg/Tumblr

In a primary, voters go to a voting booth and individually cast their votes.

8. Are there more primaries or caucuses?

Photo from studentsforbernie/Tumblr
Photo from studentsforbernie/Tumblr

While a majority of states now hold primaries, a majority of states used to hold caucuses.

9. What is front-loading?

Photo from hustleinatrap/Tumblr
Photo from hustleinatrap/Tumblr

A state trying to move their primary/caucus early in the year is a phenomenon known as front-loading. The purpose of front-loading is to increase the importance of your primary’s relevance. Notice how many eligible voters know results of the New Hampshire Primary and the Iowa Caucus. These are the first two primaries of the season.

10. What happens during primaries/caucuses?

Gif from thedustinbuck/Tumblr
Gif from thedustinbuck/Tumblr

Usually candidates express more polarized views during primary/caucus season because the voters in primaries/caucuses are usually folks with strong views and are active party members or leaders.

Make sure to register to vote through your state. Your vote counts!

 

Posted in Listicles | Tagged Bernie Sanders, caucus, debate, Donald Trump, Election, front-loading, Hillary Clinton, minority vote, politicians, politics, presidential candidate, presidential race, primary, Stony Brook Independent, Stony Brook University, Super Tuesday, voter turnout, Voting, young vote

About the Author

jennifercooper

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