Utilizing the resources of local state Sen. Mike Frerichs, as well as Scott Althaus and Peter Nardulli of the political science department, The Daily Illini has answered a list of frequently asked questions about the Illinois and national primaries. How does the Illinois primary work? “Democratic delegates are awarded per congressional district, the University is a part of the 15th district which has four delegates,” said Mike Frerichs, Champaign resident and a delegate for Barack Obama.Utilizing the resources of local state Sen. Mike Frerichs, as well as Scott Althaus and Peter Nardulli of the political science department, The Daily Illini has answered a list of frequently asked questions about the Illinois and national primaries.

How does the Illinois primary work?

“Democratic delegates are awarded per congressional district, the University is a part of the 15th district which has four delegates,” said Mike Frerichs, Champaign resident and a delegate for Barack Obama. He explained that if Clinton and Obama each get 50 percent of the popular vote in the 15th district, they will each get two delegates to send to the national convention.

Why do we have primaries?

“Primaries are set up for the parties to choose a fair nominee to run for president,” Frerichs said.

He also explained that for the two major political parties, the state primaries decide who will represent each party in the national presidential election. However, a third-party candidate, like Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, can get on the national ballot without going through the primary season.

Why don’t we have a national primary?

“This year we almost have a national primary on Feb. 5, that would be when all of the states vote on the same day,” Althaus said. “That would really give an advantage to the mainstream candidates that start out with a big organization and a lot of money. But the way we do it allows lesser-known candidates to demonstrate their electoral viability through early victories.”

Althaus added that this strategy has worked in the past for candidates like Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992 who were able to use early state victories as “a springboard for more attention and money.”

Peter Nardulli, a professor in the Department of Political Science said, “People need to have a chance to get to know the different candidates and what they stand for. A more extended primary season allows questions that emerge to be answered.”

“A national primary would just be like having a second election,” Nardulli added.

What exactly are exit polls and are they important?

Exit polls are when voters are asked right outside of their polling place whom they voted for, Nardulli said. “They enable TV stations to get out ahead and be able to say who they think is going to win before the polls close,” he said. However, these polls have been unreliable in the past and were wrong in the 2000 election as well as in New Hampshire this year.

When will we know the results of the primary?

Frerichs said the polls close at 7 p.m. in Illinois. “I think the results will be known pretty definitely by 8 or 8:30 for the state but it will be a late night for all of the results,” Frerichs said.

Can anyone vote in Illinois? (Is it an open or closed primary? What does that even mean?

“Illinois is an open primary,” Althaus said. “You can show up on that day and decide which ballot you want to vote on.” That means voters can decide on election day whether they want to vote Democratic or Republican. They can switch parties from election to election, but cannot both in both parties in the same election.

Why should students care about this election?

“Young people are often ignored by politics,” said Althaus. “This is the year where we have candidates in both parties that are outlining very different visions for the future, visions that are exciting, and visions that students can see some value in. This is the primary season for college students in particular to show they cannot be taken for granted.”

“Students should care because they are the ones that are going to have to live for the next 50 to 60 years with the things we are doing now,” Nardulli said. “It’s going to be your generation that’s going to foot the bill. If we don’t fix the infrastructure it will be your bridges and airports that will be falling apart. Were I a student at 20 years old, I would be very worried about the issues and this election.”