election process?

I am ashamed to say I don’t know what the election process is all about. How does the process lead to the national election in NOV 2008. What are the states that get to vote? What exactly does the Caucus and Primary Election mean to us? Do these elections determine who the rest of us Americans get to vote for on NOV 2008? The voting that takes place in NH tomorrow are they open to the general public? Sorry if I sound stupid, I never had any information on the process and I would like to learn something? Thanks to all that can help! hi thanks all. yes i understand that these debates and elections that are being held now, determine who we will all vote for in Nov 2008. what i am unsure of is do all the states have primaries or are there only certain states. for example tomorrow NH then they move to South Carolina and then Florida. Do they come to Mass. ?

Public Comments

1. It's certainly alright, I never paid attention to politics in all my life before my 18th birthday and I feel extremely stupid for not knowing a lot of things I should. but now that I have a chance to vote, my perspectives have changed all together, and I want to become an educated voter as well! I don't know everything, so others may correct me if I'm wrong, but I'll give it my best shot. I believe that primary elections take place to determine what two candidates (democrat and republican, the major parties) will compete against each other to win the presidential election. For example, right now in the 2008 Democratic NH Caucus, Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are all battling for the democratic spot. So yes, they are crucial for the rest of us Americans on who will get to vote in November. Voting will only take place in NH tomorrow, as its name explains. Hope this helps a bit, and GL on finding out!
2. Ha, it took me 2 years of civics and 1 year of political science to FULLY understand the election process. Because it really is so much to just.. write, I'll refer you to a link instead. It's a couple of pages, but it's wise to detach yourself from this instant gratification wave that's damaging our culture while you still can, and just read it all. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/primary.html [edit] I found a page that's a little shorter of a read and actually talks a little more about what you seem to be confused about: http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/politicalsystem/a/delegateprocess.htm
3. Voters choose their candidates during caucuses and primaries to determine party representatives to the national election. Afterwhich, voters choose their candidates during the general election through the electoral college.
4. For the primaries, each state has different laws on how each party (Dem and Repub) pick their one candidate for the general election in November. So the voting process from state to state differs. But you're basically voting for the best candidate within you party in the primaries. Then in the general, you're voting for either the one Dem or one Repub candidate that was picked in the primary.
5. Well, the primary elections are going on right now. Iowa happens to be the first state. It does not have a regular primary election, however. It uses the caucus system, which is basically party members meeting to nominate a presidential candidate. Instead of formal votes, this is more informal, more like a meeting rather than casting ballots. The Democratic Party chooses its candidate, and the Republican Party does the same. Next in line is New Hampshire, which is actually having its primary tomorrow. Here, however, the more common primary election method is used. Anyone eligible to vote who wants to goes and casts their ballot. When the voting is done, the Republican and the Democratic candidates with the most votes are chosen. The reason Iowa and New Hampshire are so important in our election process is because they have a huge impact on how the rest of the states vote. For example, after Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee's victories in Iowa, many people in other states feel that since they won Iowa, they must be the best candidates...This goes on for a while, and each state has its day when it either has its caucus/primary. At the end of the primaries, delegates from each state are sent to represent their respective states to vote for (usually) the candidates who won their state. Here, the Republican and Democratic candidates with the most votes are chosen to run in the general election, where there are only two candidates, as in George Bush and John Kerry in the last election. Then, as I'm sure you know, all eligible voters who would like to, vote. Then, once again, electors of the Electoral College meet to vote as the people of their state did (usually). We end the process with a new president. Sorry that was so long. And I'm glad you're interested in knowing about the election process. Hope this helped.
6. At least your asking! Every state gets to vote, as does DC and US territories. This is different than the presendential elections, and the rules are determined by each political party. Each state is assigned a certain number of "delegates" (ie votes) to be cast at the Democrat and Republican national conventions. The public votes to determine how many of each states delegates will vote for each candidate. It means we get a say in who gets nominated to run for president. These elections determine who are the official democrat and republican nominees in the november elections. The voting in NH are open to all registered democrats, republicans, AND INDEPENDENTS (not all state let independents vote). More info: Each party has different rules as to how many votes each states get (CA gets ALOT more than NH, but NH is first and thus gets more attention). Each party has different rules as to what other delegates get to vote (ie party bosses). There is also a difference between caucuses and primaries. Also, some states don't let independents vote.
7. This will give you an idea of the mechanics of the system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_primary Omitted are state by state delegate bindings and responsibilities, and national party specific delegate binding rules. Binding is the process that forces a delegate to vote for the candidate who was the basis of the election of the delegate. Half the politics of the primary system takes place after the primaries.