Learning Institute for EldersTerri Susan Fine, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science, UCF September 4, 2012

Article I, Section 4

◦“The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations…”

Article II, Section II

◦“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress:  but no Senator or Representative…shall be appointed an Elector.”

Areas of state-level control within federal requirements:◦Registration requirements◦Times that the polls are open◦Early voting?◦Polling locations

Federal-level policy◦Redistricting and reapportionment◦Voting Rights Act (1965) and amendments

◦Political Parties: Political parties select candidates to run for office through one of three systems

◦As political parties are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, neither is anything that parties do The President is nominated at a quadrennial

convention There are no dates set for primaries, caucuses and

conventions◦Election Day: Why is Election Day the first

Tuesday after the first Monday in November?

Role of parties, nominee and voting public in nominations has changed since the 1970s

The conventions in 2012: Does location matter?◦ Convention trivia:

Why have most nominating conventions been held in Chicago more than any other city?

When was the last multi-ballot convention? Who was the last major party candidate who

didn’t run in a single primary or caucus?

In Florida, the polls will be open from 7-7 on Tuesday, November 6.◦ Absentee voting option:

Must be received no later than 7pm November 6 if sent from somewhere other than a military base

If absentee votes are sent from a military base, they must be postmarked November 6, and must arrive by November 13

Florida’s vote will be certified on November 13

◦Early voting option: Early voting will be available in Florida

from October 27-November 3 Early voting sites must be open every

day during this period, and for at least six hours per day

Early voting changed as of 2012 Early voting instituted in Florida in

2002 Had been 14 days; now 8 days

The Electoral College meets in each state on December 17, 2012

Florida requires that Electors cast their ballot based on both a party pledge and state law

(§ 103.021(1)) All but two states are “winner take all”

states (Nebraska and Maine) Florida will have 29 Electoral Votes in 2012

(up from 27 in 2008) 270 Electoral Votes needed to win

Changes in cross county registration on Election Day

Third Party Registration