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Welcome to Robyn Nordell's Conservative California Election Website
Recommendations For the Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Election
If you find this election site to be helpful,
please tell others about it!
Elections 101
CHURCHES – Click Here for NON-Partisan Election Materials & Ways to Help Protect Marriage
ELECTION BASICS
Credit: Information on this page came from a variety of sources, including www.ivotevalues.org, www.wallbuilders.com, www.frc.org, and government and political party websites.
Q - What Is Voting?
A - Voting is a simple act with a significant impact. Voting is the way that "we the people" elect individuals who will lead our government, make our laws, and protect our freedoms. It is also one of the ways Citizen Christians can function as salt and light to bring about change in our nation.
"It is a moral outrage that more Christians do not take their voting responsibilities seriously. If they did, this would be a very different nation, and a better one." - James Dobson, Psychologist and Author
Voting is a privilege that many people in other parts of the world can only dream about. Voting is a great privilege, but it is also a great responsibility. Exodus 18:21 (NIV) says, "Select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens." Acts 6:3 (NIV) says: "Choose...men from among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them." Voting is foundational to our form of government, and it is inexcusable for Christians not to obey the command of Christ to participate in government by voting (see Matt. 22:21).
For Americans serving in the military or living overseas, the Department of Defense's Voting Assistance Guide may be of some help.
Q - What is a Primary?
A - A primary is a preliminary election, where voters go to the polls to select a candidate for office. The winner of each parties primaries then face off. It's kind of like the playoffs in football. Win and you advance to the next level.
Primaries were first used back in the mid-1800's. They were created in an effort to cut down on fraud by giving the power directly to voters instead of party bosses. By the early 20th century, primaries were used for statewide and presidential elections as well.
A primary can be nonpartisan, open and closed. A nonpartisan primary is where candidates are not listed by party affiliation. They are mainly used in local and judicial elections. In an open primary any registered voter of any party can vote on all candidates. In a closed primary only registered party members may vote for the party's slate of candidates. Only nine states have open primaries.
Q - What is a Caucus?
A - A caucus is a primary that is limited to registered party members only. Members vote for delegates to the county and state conventions at small party meetings across the state. Those delegates then select representatives to go the national party convention. The delegates who go to the national convention cast the actual votes for the candidates they want to run for office.
Only 14 states hold presidential caucuses instead of primaries. Some states have recently moved to a caucus system from a primary system to save money, as fewer voters take part in caucuses.
Q - What is the Electoral College? Why is it important to preserve the Electoral College?
A - The president and vice president of the United States are not elected by popular vote, but by the electoral college--a system devised by the founding fathers in the Constitution.
When people cast their votes, they're actually voting for party slates of electors pledged to the candidates. Generally, the candidate who wins the most number of popular votes in a state wins the state's entire slate of electoral votes. The candidate with the majority of electoral votes--at least 270 out of 538 possible--wins.
Each state is allotted as many electors as it has members in Congress. States with larger populations have more electoral votes. So it is possible to win the popular vote but not the presidency. That actually happened in the 2000 Presidential Election. The electors are chosen by a variety of methods according to state--including through primaries, party conventions and party organizations.
If no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives has to decide the presidential election. Don't laugh. After the 2000 election, we know that anything could happen!
Why its important to preserve the Electoral College? - Phyllis Schlafly, 2000 article
For More Info on the Electoral College, including an Electoral College Calculator
Q - What is a National Party Convention?
A - A convention is an official gathering of party representatives to choose their candidates for office. National party conventions are held the summer before elections in November. At these conventions, delegates from each state cast votes for candidates.
The delegates are chosen at state primaries and caucuses. Each state, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the various U.S. Territories, is allowed a certain number of delegates that reflects the size of the state's population.
In 2008, the Democratic National Convention will take place August 25-28 in Denver, Colorado. The Republican National Convention. will be held on Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Q - How are CALIFORNIA Delegates Chosen for the Republican National Convention? - (The method recently changed!) For Full Sacramento Bee article
A - "...in 2008 the Republican Party will scrap its traditional statewide winner-take-all California presidential primary. Instead, the GOP will select the vast majority of California presidential delegates based on who wins in each of the state's 53 separate congressional districts...."
"Some 159 of the state's 173 Republican presidential delegates -- three per district -- will be chosen by this new "winner-take-all by congressional district" model. "It means that even if you are not running first in the primary, you still have the opportunity to compete in California by taking a look at what congressional districts might work for you," Ron Nehring said. "I think it's going to create a very, very exciting presidential primary in California."
"While 159 Republican presidential delegates will be chosen by congressional districts, the statewide primary winner will get 11 additional at-large delegates. Meanwhile, three top state party officials will serve as uncommitted delegates at the September 2008 GOP national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul."
Q – Where Can I Find Reliable, Conservative Sources for Learning about KEY ISSUES?
A - Outstanding Resource: Focus on the Family's Focus on Social Issues
Family Research Council has excellent information on all of these important issues:
Human Life and Bioethics
Marriage and Family
Human Sexuality
Economics and Taxes
The Courts
Education
Other Excellent Sources On Domestic & Foreign Policy:
Heritage Foundation – Domestic & Foreign Issues
Eagle Forum
"Eagle Forum University" – FREE On-line Courses on Supreme Court 101, Am. Govt /
American History, Principles of Microeconomics, etc.
Concerned Women for America
For additional information on these and other policy areas from a Christian perspective, check out the following website:
For Faith & Family (The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC)
Q – Where Can I Find Links for Teaching Kids & Teens about Elections & Politics?
A - Here are several resources:
"Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids"
Excellent K – 12th Political & Election Site!
Grades K – 2nd
Grades 3rd - 5th
Grades 6th - 8th
Grades 9th - 12th
Parents & Teachers
"Kids In The House"
Excellent Kids Site for Understanding Issues Related to Congress, including How Laws Are Made.
Generation Joshua –An OUTSTANDING Program from Home School Legal Defense Association
Gen J is "Designed for Christian youth between the ages of 11 and 19 who want to become a force in the civic and political arenas. Our goal is to ignite a vision in young people to help America return to her Judeo-Christian foundations. We provide students with hands-on opportunities to implement that vision."
Gen J's Outstanding ONLINE CIVICS MINI-COURSES include:
Founding Fathers, Intro to Constitutional Law, Campaign School, Successful Campaigning, Revolutionary War Era Sermons, The Federalist Papers, Democracy in America, The Great Awakening, Constitutional Convention (group course), America's Founding Documents. Costs: The Generation Joshua civics courses are FREE with an annual or family membership to Generation Joshua. Adults are also welcome to join Generation Joshua to take their on-line civics courses.
For More Ideas & Links, Check out Robyn's Teens & Kids Page
Q – What are Party Platforms? What's the Difference Between Democratic & Republican Platforms?
Plus Links to major political parties.
A - Wallbuilders - "Democrats and Republicans In Their Own Words – NATIONAL Party Platforms on Specific Biblical Issues"
This document was written in 2000 by Wallbuilders, and tracks the changes in both the Republican and Democrat platforms on key issues from the year 1972 to the year 2000. This piece is helpful for teaching people how to critically look at the party platforms. At both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in 2008, there may be additional changes to the party platform.
Wallbuilder's Booklet Excerpt: What is a Party Platform?
"A national party platform is a document produced every four years by the representatives f a political party during its national convention to nominate a presidential candidate. The platform declares to the public that party's vision, beliefs, and values, and its legislative plan and policy positions on important issues of the day. A position set forth in a platform is called a "plank," and platforms today are made of dozens of planks.
Platforms often change from election to election, and decade to decade. Sometimes these changes occur because a party alters its views on a subject. On other occasions, a plank may be added to address a new and compelling issue. Fr example, school prayer was not an issue addressed by platforms prior to 1962-1963 – the year in which the Supreme Court first prohibited prayer in schools.
Similarly, the Supreme Court did not establish abortion-on-demand until 1973, so either party addressed the issue before that year. However, the silence of a platform on an issue can also mean that the party agrees with the national policy then in place. Party platforms help voters know the values that a party stands for.
This booklet contains the positions of the two major political parties on four subjects of interest to voters of faith: prayer in schools, abortion, homosexuality, and school choice that includes opportunities for faith-based education. The following excerpts – taken directly from their platforms – can help citizens of faith make informed decisions about their personal involvement in and voting for a political party." Click Here For Entire Wallbuilder's Booklet
2004 Republican National Platform
2004 Democratic National Platform
Links to all Qualified Political Parties in California - includes their State Platforms
Q – Where Can I Find Info On Voter-Related Issues, including Voter Registration, Absentee Voting, Political Parties, etc.?
A - Deadline to Register for the Feb 5, 2008 California Election - your voter registration card needs to be postmarked no later than January 22, 2008.
In California, most of these questions can be answered through the Secretary of State website or by contacting your county's Registrar of Voters office.
Every California County Registrar of Voters Office
For ALL other states, this website answers most of the questions and provides the appropriate state links
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