U.S. Presidential Election Process

Match the descriptions below with the correct terms.

Groups:

(a) Primary Election

,

(b) General Election

• Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

• May be open, closed, or blanket

• nominees from each party run against each other to win the next office position

• held in the spring

• held to choose a choose a candidate from the same party to represent the party in the general.

Choose the best description of absentee voting

• Absentee voting is a process that requires voters to be present at their polling location.
• Absentee voting allows individuals to cast their votes only during early voting periods.
• Absentee voting is a method that enables voters to participate in elections without being physically present at their designated polling place.

When voters choose a mix of candidates from various parties, as opposed to voting solely for members of a single political party, this is known as ___.

• party-line voting
• independent candidate selection
• split-ticket voting

Sort the following list to correctly order the steps that occur between when a candidate announces a run for the presidency and Inauguration Day. 1 = First step in the process.

• primary elections

• national party convention

• election certification

• candidate debates

• general election

Answer explanation

After the candidate's announcement, they campaign in anticipation of the primary elections. If the candidate is successful in the primaries, they will be the key feature of the national party's nominating convention. In the fall, they will debate the candidates from other parties in advance of the general election. Following the election, there are multiple steps in the certification process to be completed before Inauguration Day. 

Examine the electoral map and answer the following question.

True or False: if Blue wins the state of Nevada's 6 electoral votes, Blue will win the presidency.

• False
• True

Answer explanation

Winning Nevada's 6 electoral votes will leave Blue with only 263, short of the 270 needed to win. Red is already over the total, with 275 electoral votes.

The total number of votes cast nationally for a candidate by registered voters is called the __.

• national vote
• popular vote
• electoral vote

Answer explanation

The popular vote, also called the national popular vote, is the total number of votes cast nationally for a candidate by registered voters.

How are the terms "left" and "right" used in politics?

• In politics, 'left' refers to progressive ideologies and 'right' refers to conservative ideologies.
• In politics, 'left' refers to conservative ideologies and 'right' refers to progressive ideologies.
• In politics, 'left' signifies traditional values and 'right' signifies radical changes.

Read the scenario below. The scenario represents which influence on Rita's political ideology?

• media

• school

• family

Which of the following are requirements for voting in federal and state elections in the United States?

Choose two correct answers.

• The person must have graduated high school.

• The person must be at least 18 years old.

• The person must be a United States citizen.

Which conclusion does the graph support?

• Younger voters are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates.

• Older age groups favored Republicans more and more over time.

Answer explanation

Voter preference in age groups, from youngest to oldest, mostly shifts from Democrat to Republican. A higher percentage of younger voters voted for Democrats, and a higher percentage of older voters voted for Republicans.