Ballot fatigue
The result when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot.
Caucus
A form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections.
Chronic minority
Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because the Electoral College system distribution in their state.
Closed primary
An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party’s candidates.
Coattail effect
The result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from the same party win their own elections.
Delegates
Party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state- or national-level nominating convention.
District system
The means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state.
Early voting
An accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day.
Electoral College
The constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president.
Incumbency advantage
The advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection.
Incumbent
The current holder of a political office.
Initiative
Law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition.
Midterm elections
The congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term.
Open primary
An election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus.
Platform
The set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates.
Political action committees (PACs)
Organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics.
Recall
The removal of a politician or government official by the voters.
Referendum
A yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government.
Residency requirement
The stipulation that citizens must live in a state for a determined period of time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state.
Shadow campaign
A campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate.
Straight-ticket voting
The practice of voting only for candidates from the same party.
Super PACs
Officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign.
Top-two primary
A primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election.
Voter fatigue
The result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls.
