Key Terms and Concepts in Elections

What is 'ballot fatigue'?

• The requirement to vote in all sections of a ballot

• The result when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot

• The exhaustion felt by candidates after a long campaign

• The process of counting ballots in a lengthy election

What is a 'caucus'?

• A public debate between candidates

• A secret meeting of party leaders to select candidates

• A type of primary election open to all voters

• A form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format

Who are 'chronic minority' voters?

• Voters who change their party affiliation frequently

• Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections

• Voters who consistently vote for the winning party

• Voters who do not participate in midterm elections

What is a 'closed primary'?

• An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party's candidates

• A primary that is held in secret

• An election open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation

• A primary where only independent voters can participate

What is the 'coattail effect'?

• The influence of a candidate's family on their campaign

• The effect of negative campaigning on voter turnout

• The result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from the same party win their own elections

• The impact of media coverage on election outcomes

What are 'delegates'?

• Party members chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party's state or national-level nominating convention

• Members of the media covering an election

• Elected officials who vote in the Electoral College

• Citizens who vote in a primary election

What is the 'district system'?

• The means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state

• A system where all votes in a state go to the candidate with the most votes

• A method of drawing district boundaries to favor one party

• A system of proportional representation in elections

What is 'early voting'?

• An accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day

• Voting that occurs before a candidate is officially nominated

• The process of voting by mail

• Voting that takes place before the polls officially open on Election Day

What is the 'Electoral College'?

• A committee that oversees the election process

• The constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president

• A college where future politicians are trained

• A group of electors chosen by Congress to select the president

What is the 'incumbency advantage'?

• The support given to candidates by their political party

• The financial advantage of having more campaign funds

• The advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection

• The benefit of being a new candidate in an election