Political Primaries

2. Some states have open primaries. This means:

• You may vote for candidates outside your own party.
  You win! Open primaries allow you to vote for whichever candidate you like, regardless of party. However, you can only vote for one candidate. Party leaders are not allowed to vote in primaries.
• You may vote for candidates in each party.
  Veto. Open primaries allow you to vote for whichever candidate you like, regardless of party. However, you can only vote for one candidate. Party leaders are not allowed to vote in primaries.
• The party leaders also have a say in the voting.
  Incorrect. Open primaries allow you to vote for whichever candidate you like, regardless of party. However, you can only vote for one candidate. Party leaders are not allowed to vote in primaries.

3. Which of the following candidates did not run in a single primary, yet won his party's nomination for President?

• Richard Nixon
  Sorry. It's Hubert Humphrey. In 1968, not many states had primaries. Humphrey won by receiving enough votes from party leaders in non-primary states. This caused such commotion that the Democrats reformed the process to make the selection process more inclusive to party members. For election 2000, 43 states will use the primary process while the remaining states will use caucuses to select their candidates.
• Hubert Humphrey
  You win! It's Hubert Humphrey. In 1968, not many states had primaries. Humphrey won by receiving enough votes from party leaders in non-primary states. This caused such commotion that the Democrats reformed the process to make the selection process more inclusive to party members. For election 2000, 43 states will use the primary process while the remaining states will use caucuses to select their candidates.
• Dwight Eisenhower
  Wrong. It's Hubert Humphrey. In 1968, not many states had primaries. Humphrey won by receiving enough votes from party leaders in non-primary states. This caused such commotion that the Democrats reformed the process to make the selection process more inclusive to party members. For election 2000, 43 states will use the primary process while the remaining states will use caucuses to select their candidates.

4. What are the requirements for running in a primary?

• The party must have received four percent of the state's previous gubernatorial or senatorial elections.
  You're in! The party must have received four percent of the state's previous gubernatorial or senatorial elections. That's why you may see a party running in one primary and not another.
• The party must pay a fee of $10,000.
  Sorry. The party must have received four percent of the state's previous gubernatorial or senatorial elections. That's why you may see a party running in one primary and not another.
• A primary is open to any party that wants to run.
  Nope. The party must have received four percent of the state's previous gubernatorial or senatorial elections. That's why you may see a party running in one primary and not another.

5. To enter the New Hampshire primary, you must pay a filing fee of $1,000. What did candidate Austin Burton try to substitute for the fee in 1972?

• A four-foot long snakeskin.
  You're in. It was a four-foot long snakeskin. Burton was a Delaware Indian known as Chief Burning Wood. He offered to trade the snakeskin for his candidacy. Needless to say, the Secretary of State refused the offer and Burton had to pay the fee.
• A hand-painted self portrait.
  Nope. It was a four-foot long snakeskin. Burton was a Delaware Indian known as Chief Burning Wood. He offered to trade the snakeskin for his candidacy. Needless to say, the Secretary of State refused the offer and Burton had to pay the fee.
• His favorite horse.
  Guess again. It was a four-foot long snakeskin. Burton was a Delaware Indian known as Chief Burning Wood. He offered to trade the snakeskin for his candidacy. Needless to say, the Secretary of State refused the offer and Burton had to pay the fee.