How do primaries and caucuses work?
In caucuses, party members meet, discuss, and vote for who they think would be the best party candidate. In primaries, party members vote in a state election for the candidate they want to represent them in the general election.
What is a caucus during an election?
Caucuses are private meetings run by political parties. They are held at the county, district, or precinct level. In most, participants divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support. At the end, the number of voters in each group determines how many delegates each candidate has won.
Why was the Electoral College created?
The Electoral College was created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. Two other presidents—Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 and Benjamin Harrison in 1888—became president without winning the popular vote.
How many states hold caucuses?
Today all 50 states and the District of Columbia have either presidential primaries or caucuses. States parties choose whether they want to hold a primary or a caucus, and some states have switched from one format to the other over time.
Why did the Founders establish the Electoral College?
The Electoral College was created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. Several weeks after the general election, electors from each state meet in their state capitals and cast their official vote for president and vice president.
What is the electoral college responsible for?
When citizens cast their ballots for president in the popular vote, they elect a slate of electors. Electors then cast the votes that decide who becomes president of the United States. Usually, electoral votes align with the popular vote in an election.
What is the difference between the caucus and primary?
A primary election is usually set up like a general election, while a caucus is more like a town meeting, and involves free discussion and debate among voters. One difference between a caucus and a primary is the amount of time participants must contribute to the process.
What is the purpose of primaries and caucuses?
Primaries and caucuses are methods that political parties use to select candidates for a general election. Here are some details on the two election methods. A primary is a state-level election where party members vote to choose a candidate affiliated with their political party.
What states have caucuses?
As of the 2012 election cycle, the states which use the caucus system include Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Idaho, Kansas, Wyoming, Alaska, Washington, Florida and North Dakota. U.S. territories American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands also use caucuses.
What is the purpose of a caucus?
A caucus is a meeting of members of a group or subgroup to discuss issues and make decisions. “To caucus” (verb) means the process of meeting to discuss issues and come to a decision.