Slate (elections)
Encyclopedia
A slate is a group of candidates that run in multi-seat or multi-position election
s on a common platform.
The common platform may be because the candidates are all members of a political party
, have the same or similar policies, or some other reason.
to determine the winner and the electors are chosen by popular vote in each state. Voters choose a slate of electors who support one of the candidates, although this may not be obvious to the voter at the time.
are a prime example, with most districts electing one member of the Maryland Senate and three members of the Maryland House of Delegates
. Candidates for senator and delegate (usually incumbents) often join together prior to the primary election, registering their slates as separate campaign committees to enable them to raise funds separately. They are commonly called "Leadership Teams".
) or non-political. However some students' unions ban the use of slates in their elections.
do not have municipal
wings. While some of Canada's biggest cities, such as Montreal
and Vancouver
, have permanent political parties that contest municipal elections only, most of Canada's cities and towns do not have fully functioning municipal political parties. Instead, just prior to a municipal election, some individuals may agree to campaign jointly in what is called a "slate". For members of a slate, this usually means not running against each other for the same office, purchasing advertising materials together and possibly agreeing to vote together on some issues if elected. Slates differ from political parties in that they are usually temporary arrangements that last for the election campaign only, and they have no annual meetings, headquarters or volunteers.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s on a common platform.
The common platform may be because the candidates are all members of a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, have the same or similar policies, or some other reason.
United States electoral college
The United States presidential elections use an electoral collegeUnited States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
to determine the winner and the electors are chosen by popular vote in each state. Voters choose a slate of electors who support one of the candidates, although this may not be obvious to the voter at the time.
United States legislative elections
In states whose state legislatures are elected from multi-member districts, it is common for groups of candidates to form slates in primary and general elections. Elections to the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
are a prime example, with most districts electing one member of the Maryland Senate and three members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
. Candidates for senator and delegate (usually incumbents) often join together prior to the primary election, registering their slates as separate campaign committees to enable them to raise funds separately. They are commonly called "Leadership Teams".
United Kingdom student unions
Most student unions in the United Kingdom have the places on their executive committee elected simultaneously, but separately. Groups of candidates may run together so as each candidate can campaign for themselves and the other members on the slate at the same time, thereby increasing the election material and manpower available to the group. Slates can be political (e.g. Stop the WarStop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
) or non-political. However some students' unions ban the use of slates in their elections.
Canadian municipal elections
Unusual among western democracies, Canada's major federal and provincial political partiesPolitical Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
do not have municipal
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
wings. While some of Canada's biggest cities, such as Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, have permanent political parties that contest municipal elections only, most of Canada's cities and towns do not have fully functioning municipal political parties. Instead, just prior to a municipal election, some individuals may agree to campaign jointly in what is called a "slate". For members of a slate, this usually means not running against each other for the same office, purchasing advertising materials together and possibly agreeing to vote together on some issues if elected. Slates differ from political parties in that they are usually temporary arrangements that last for the election campaign only, and they have no annual meetings, headquarters or volunteers.