Notes Sept 24 2013 Presidential Selection Timeline ex 2016 election Invisible Primary Nov 2012 Previous election Nov 2014 Mid term election Dec 2015 Pre primary debates 2016 Open race of both parties no incumbent so dozens of governors and senators think they should run for presidency a bit too late for those senators though because by Nov 2012 there were many governors and senators who are running not officially declared looking at public opinion polls even though these will probably change past candidates and campaigns trying to test the waters and get people lined up invisible primary Invisible primary longest part of election 3 years nothing official yet no one really pays attention Midterm election some of the candidates will be defeated ex Senator George Allen lost his reelection bid for Senate so that s the end of his run for presidency but some will win reelection for Senate by a landslide Jan Feb 2016 Iowa New Hampshire Primary Phase Early March 2016 Super Tuesday Mid March June 2016 Later primaries S Carolina Primary choose one from list of democrats or republicans delegates chose to national convention Caucus neighborhood meeting precinct about 10 15 up to 400 people openly declare who they are going to vote for the way delegates are chosen to the national convention Iowa New Hampshire Iowa is the first caucus New Hampshire is the first primary two most important contest what happens at the beginning is the most important real chance of getting the nomination Going into IA NH 5 10 candidates per party people vote and then votes are counted at the end of the day media announces winners of the Iowa Caucus for both parties people watching realize that that person can win at least one state losers of this caucus will just drop out the next day Super Tuesday Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party s presidential candidates are officially nominated winning ST is super tough one candidate wins on ST and then it s usually over not official but everyone basically knows Aug Sept 2016 National Convention Out Party R then In Party D General Election Campaign Sept Oct 2016 various campaign ads speeches events Basically large commercial for the candidates at these speeches and events October 2016 Debates Candidates go around the country going to campaign events many TV commercials 1st televised debates in 1960 Since 1976 there have been presidential debates has become a tradition When George Bush Sr didn t want to debate against 2 opponents the media dumped on him so he changed his mind Standards 3 presidential 1 vice presidential debates Nov 8 2016 Election Day Official Election Events Dec 19 2016 Electoral College Dec 2016 Jan 2017 House of Reps USSC Presidential Selection Campaign Strategy and public opinion go hand in hand Public opinion steers clear of subjects which may swing voting Overview Selection Process primary nominations and general election Jan 2017 Inauguration