The Presidential Primary Process

Primaries are used to pick a party’s presidential nominee.

Testing the Waters - The road to the White House begins with a series of primaries and caucuses held in the 50 states in which aspiring candidates campaign and compete for their party’s nomination. But first, prospective candidates often begin signaling a desire to run for the White House by visiting early states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, a year or two before the primary season to get a feel for how warmly their candidacy would be greeted.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Testing the Waters - The road to the White House begins with a series of primaries and caucuses held in the 50 states in which aspiring candidates campaign and compete for their party’s nomination. But first, prospective candidates often begin signaling a desire to run for the White House by visiting early states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, a year or two before the primary season to get a feel for how warmly their candidacy would be greeted.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Primary vs. Caucus - Most states hold primary elections, but a small number of states, like Iowa and Nevada, hold caucuses. Primary voters cast their ballots just as they would in any other local, state or federal election. Where applicable, they also may cast absentee ballots and participate in early voting. Some states have open primaries in which any registered voter can cast a ballot; others have a closed system, in which a voter can only cast ballots for the candidate in the party with which he or she is affiliated. In addition, in some states voters choose a candidate or a delegate. Caucuses are run by the state party and, instead of going to a polling place, voters attend private events run by the political parties and cast their votes for delegates there after discussion and debate. Some states, like Missouri, hold both a caucus and a primary.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Primary vs. Caucus - Most states hold primary elections, but a small number of states, like Iowa and Nevada, hold caucuses. Primary voters cast their ballots just as they would in any other local, state or federal election. Where applicable, they also may cast absentee ballots and participate in early voting. Some states have open primaries in which any registered voter can cast a ballot; others have a closed system, in which a voter can only cast ballots for the candidate in the party with which he or she is affiliated. In addition, in some states voters choose a candidate or a delegate. Caucuses are run by the state party and, instead of going to a polling place, voters attend private events run by the political parties and cast their votes for delegates there after discussion and debate. Some states, like Missouri, hold both a caucus and a primary.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Big Number - In 2012, there are 2,286 delegates up for grabs. Some states lost half of their delegates because they violated Republican National Committee rules by setting their primaries and caucuses too early. A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win the GOP presidential nomination.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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The Big Number - In 2012, there are 2,286 delegates up for grabs. Some states lost half of their delegates because they violated Republican National Committee rules by setting their primaries and caucuses too early. A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win the GOP presidential nomination.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Early Primaries and Caucuses - Iowa and New Hampshire have traditionally held the first caucus and primary, respectively. Some states, like Nevada, hoping to have a greater influence over the process, have changed their dates for the 2012 cycle. Between Jan. 3 and March 3, primaries and caucuses will take place in several states. On March 6, dubbed Super Tuesday, primaries and caucuses will be held in several states, followed by a series in individual states and the territories up until July 31. Click here to view the 2012 primary and caucus schedule. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

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Early Primaries and Caucuses - Iowa and New Hampshire have traditionally held the first caucus and primary, respectively. Some states, like Nevada, hoping to have a greater influence over the process, have changed their dates for the 2012 cycle. Between Jan. 3 and March 3, primaries and caucuses will take place in several states. On March 6, dubbed Super Tuesday, primaries and caucuses will be held in several states, followed by a series in individual states and the territories up until July 31. Click here to view the 2012 primary and caucus schedule. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Delegates - Delegates are individuals who’ve been chosen to represent their state at the Democratic or Republican party’s national convention. The process for choosing them varies by party and from state to state. In other states, the number of delegates a state is allotted is based on the number of Electoral College votes it gets. The Democratic Party uses a proportional system to award delegates to each candidate based on the percentage of votes he or she wins. The Republican Party allows each state to decide whether it wants to use a winner-take-all method or the proportional method. In addition, the Republican National Committee might reward a state with additional delegates if the party’s candidate carried the state in the previous presidential election or voters have elected more Republicans to local, state and federal offices.(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Delegates - Delegates are individuals who’ve been chosen to represent their state at the Democratic or Republican party’s national convention. The process for choosing them varies by party and from state to state. In other states, the number of delegates a state is allotted is based on the number of Electoral College votes it gets. The Democratic Party uses a proportional system to award delegates to each candidate based on the percentage of votes he or she wins. The Republican Party allows each state to decide whether it wants to use a winner-take-all method or the proportional method. In addition, the Republican National Committee might reward a state with additional delegates if the party’s candidate carried the state in the previous presidential election or voters have elected more Republicans to local, state and federal offices.(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Who Are the Delegates? - They are usually local activists or political leaders, but Democrats also have superdelegates, who are serving in elective office, such as members of Congress, or are party officials.(Photo: REUTERS/Phelan Ebenhack)

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Who Are the Delegates? - They are usually local activists or political leaders, but Democrats also have superdelegates, who are serving in elective office, such as members of Congress, or are party officials.(Photo: REUTERS/Phelan Ebenhack)

The Convention - Before the general election, each party holds a national convention at which the delegates decide which candidate will compete in the presidential race. Usually by this point, however, it is a formality if a clear frontrunner was settled on earlier. This year, the Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 4-6. The Republican National Convention will convene in Tampa, Florida, August 27-30. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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The Convention - Before the general election, each party holds a national convention at which the delegates decide which candidate will compete in the presidential race. Usually by this point, however, it is a formality if a clear frontrunner was settled on earlier. This year, the Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 4-6. The Republican National Convention will convene in Tampa, Florida, August 27-30. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)