Where do American voters have the most power in the primaries or the general election?

Answer 1

Interesting question, I would surmise, the primaries.

Answer 2

As a group America voters have more of a say in a general election.

This may be limited when the primary which is used to determine the candidate for a political party does not have anyone opposing the candidate. Then it is just about the same importance as the general election.

Answer 3

American individuals have the most say in the CAUCUSes than either of the two you mentioned. The caucus is a more informal gathering of each individual party to compare, promote, and ultimately vote on the candidates. Iowa, the first caucus of the year, gathers voters for say the Republican party in one central location for each major township. There is debate and usually each candidate has a delegate that speaks for them on certain topics. Votes are tabulated and compiled for the entire state and all districs, and from these results, we get a frontrunner. While noone is officially declared a winner of a caucus, coming in first or a close second basically keeps your campaign alive, while a not so stellar finish basically ends your campaign.

A primary election is similar in that, all candidates for a particular party are available to vote for, but there is no debate or question/answer time during the proceedings and typically the voting is done much the same as during the general election, using voting machines or cards, and the like. Results are tabulated for each town or county and the state reports all results, like a caucus. New Hampshire has the first primary of the election process every year. Once again a strong first or second is a good sign, not finishing well basically finishes your campaign.

The Convention follows the caucuses and primaries. The convention is the large national gathering of each party and is often a meeting of delegates for each state. The delegation parties vote following the lines of their respective state's voting from the caucuses or primaries. From here a particular candidate is chosen to run as the official Democrat and official Republican. There are also conventions for the smaller parties like the Green Party, Libertairans, even Communist, although due to size they don't get much press.

The general election has the least amount of individual voter say. Yes, each individual above 18 gets to vote, but the real votes are the Electoral votes which are placed by your representatives in the House of Representatives and the US Senate. As shown in Bush v Gore, the popular (individual) votes and the electoral votes can elect different people, with the elctoral votes coming out on top.

The real only way to have a good say in the General Election is to vote for a responsible Representative or Senator from your state, since their votes ultimately affect the outcome of the presidential race, and to take part in your local causcus or primary, whichever system your state follows.

Answer 4

You asked about American voters, and I'm assuming you mean the "rank and file," not activists. IMO, each and every election -- local, regional, state or national -- is important. As a former elected official and professional campaign operative, I can tell you I won't talk politics with someone who doesn't vote. While one answerer was correct when s/he said power is concentrated at the caucuses, s/he was correct. If you really want to exercise your American right to vote, you should become a member of the local political party of your choice. Our government is organized around the two party system and "there's no place like home" to become fully vested in the process.

As the late Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill once said: "All politics is local."

Answer 5

A vote counts for more in the primaries (few people vote in them), and there are more choices available to focus on the particular issues important to you. I would say much more power in primaries (but that kind of depends on the state and how far along the process has gone).

Answer 6

The primaries

Answer 7

It may be cynical to say, but the fact of the matter is that the American voters have no real power at all.

Answer 8

That's a very good question. I would have to say in the primaries.

Answer 9

American voters have NO power, so long as they vote either Democrat or Republican.

Answer 10

The primaries. So, that's why .00001 percent of the population votes in them, and then at election time, they're stuck with the "lesser of two evils".

Answer 11

Democrats