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Voting Systems
Closed: Only registered Democrats or Republicans may participate in their party’s event. A double pound sign (##) indicates that in certain caucus states the rules are a bit different than for a standard closed event, and that while the event is not open to independent voters
per se, at least one of the parties may allow new voters
to register at the caucus or previously registered
voters to change their registration.
Open: Any registered voter may participate.
Semi-open: Generally, registered voters in the party plus independent voters may participate.
Allocation Methods
Direct election: Delegates, whose names appear on the ballot, are elected individually and are required to reflect the presidential preference vote; the result of the latter is nonbinding.
No formal system: Delegates run as individuals and are not officially allocated to any candidate based on the primary or caucus vote.
Proportional: Delegates are divided in proportion to each candidate’s share of the vote, with the threshold needed to win delegates determined by the state party.
Winner-take-all (statewide): The winner of the statewide primary vote wins all the delegates at stake.
Winner-take-all (state/CD): The winner of the statewide primary vote wins the at-large delegates, while the winner in a district wins that district’s delegates.
Winner-take-all or Proportional: Winner-take-all or proportional representation may be used, depending on the outcome of the primary vote. In this case, a majority vote usually wins all the delegates statewide or in a district, while a plurality vote triggers proportional representation.
Delegate Types
At-Large: Delegates chosen to reflect the statewide vote.
By District: Delegates chosen according to the voting results within a congressional district.
Pledged PEOs: Party leaders and elected officials who commit to a particular candidate and are selected according to the state’s caucus or primary results.
RNC members: Each state and territory is allotted three delegate slots for its representatives to the Republican National Committee: its chairman, committeeman, and committeewoman.
Superdelegates: The Democratic Party has roughly 850 unpledged delegates reserved seats by virtue of their positions within the party. They are uncommitted and may vote for the candidate of their choice.
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