| A | B |
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| nomination | The process of candidate selection in an electoral system |
| general Election | the regularly scheduled election at which voters make a final selection of officeholders |
| caucus | as a nominating device a group of like minded people who meet to select the canidates they will support in an upcoming election |
| direct primary | an election held within a party to pick that partys candidates for the general election |
| closed primary | a party nominating election in which only declared party members can vote |
| open primary | a party nominating election in which any qualified voter can take part |
| blanket primary | a voting process in which voters receive a long ballot containging the names of all contenders regardless of party and can vote how ever they choose. |
| runoff primary | a primary in which the top two vote getters in the first direct primary face one another |
| nonpartisan election | elections in which candidates are not identified by party labels |
| absentee voting | provisions made for those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day |
| coattail effect | the effect of a strong candidate running for an office at the top of a ballot helping to attract voters to other candidates on the partys ticket |
| precinct | The smallest unit of election administration a voting district |
| polling place | the place where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote |
| ballot | the device voters use to register a choice in an election |
| political action committee (pac) | the political extension of special intrest groups which have a major stake in public policy |
| subsidy | a grant of money usually from a government |
| soft money | money given to a state and local party organizations for voting related activities |
| hard money | campign money that is subject to regulations by the fec |
