The U.S. presidential election starts with primary elections and caucuses, where candidates from each party try to win delegates. After the primaries, each big party has a national convention to pick their official candidate for president. Then, there’s a general election where people vote. But the president is actually chosen by the Electoral College, which gives each state a certain number of votes based on its population. The candidate who gets at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes wins. This whole process happens every four years.
Importance of the presidency in the US political system
The U.S. presidency is a crucial part of the country’s political system, acting as both the leader of the nation and the leader of its government. The president has a lot of power to carry out laws, give orders, and manage foreign relations. As the top military leader, the president controls the armed forces and makes important decisions about national security. The president also has a big say in making laws, can reject proposed laws, suggest budgets, and help shape new laws. Moreover, the president chooses federal judges and government officials, which affects how the courts and government agencies work.
The Electoral College System
The Electoral College is the system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president. Instead of directly electing the president through a national popular vote, voters in each state choose electors who then cast their votes for the candidates. The system is designed to balance the interests of both large and small states in presidential elections.
- 538 electors, including 100 Senators, 435 Representatives, and 3 electors for Washington D.C.
- A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
How Electoral College Work?
- The Electoral College consists of 538 electors.
- States: Each state has a number of electors equal to its total number of Congressional representatives (Senators + House members).
- District of Columbia: D.C. has 3 electors, as granted by the 23rd Amendment.
- A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency (majority of 538).
- In most states, the candidate with the majority of the popular vote wins all of that state’s electoral votes.
- Exceptions: Nebraska and Maine use a proportional system.
- State Representation:
- California has the most electors with 54.
- Seven states and D.C. have 3 electors each (the minimum).
- Total Electors: The number of electors (538) comes from 100 Senators, 435 Representatives, and 3 electors for D.C.
When is the next presidential election?
The United States holds a presidential election every four years. It always takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next one will be on November 5, 2024.
What is the typical presidential election cycle?
| Time of Year | Event |
| Spring (Year Before Election) | Candidates register with the FEC |
| Spring (Year Before Election) | Candidates announce their intentions to run |
| Summer (Year Before Election) – Spring (Election Year) | Primary and caucus debates |
| January – June (Election Year) | Primary and caucus elections |
| July – Early September (Election Year) | Party nominating conventions |
| September – October (Election Year) | Presidential debates |
| Early November (Election Year) | Election Day |
| December (Election Year) | Electoral College votes |
| Early January (Next Year) | Congress counts electoral votes |
| January 20 (Next Year) | Presidential Inauguration |
Pros of the Electoral College
- Allows smaller states to have more power than they would in a direct vote.
- Candidates need to win over voters from many different states, not just big cities.
- Usually results in a clear winner, avoiding extra elections or close nationwide counts.
- Stops a candidate from winning the presidency by only focusing on one area and getting limited support from other regions.
Cons of the Electoral College
- Small states have more electoral votes per capita than larger states.
- A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election (e.g., 2000, 2016).
- Candidates focus disproportionately on swing states, neglecting states with predictable outcomes.
- In winner-takes-all states, votes for losing candidates don’t contribute to the final result.
Constitutional requirements for presidential candidates
Candidates for president of the United States must meet basic requirements. Learn about the criteria to run for president.
- The U.S. Constitution states that the president must:
- Be a natural-born citizen of the United States
- Be at least 35 years old
Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years
Anyone who meets these requirements can declare their candidacy for president. Once a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 for their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission. That includes naming a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.
The Presidential Election Campaign
Presidential Primaries and Caucuses
Primaries and caucuses are two ways that people help states and political parties choose presidential nominees. Learn how they work and the differences between the processes.
Presidential Primaries
Most states hold primaries 6-9 months before a presidential election. Primary voters choose their preferred candidate anonymously by casting secret ballots. The state where the primary is held takes the results of the vote into account to award delegates to the winners.
Caucuses
A few states have special meetings called caucuses before a presidential election. These meetings are organized by political parties and happen at the county, district, or local level. In some caucuses, people pick their favorite candidate by voting secretly. In others, people stand in different groups based on who they support. If someone isn’t sure, they can join a group for undecided people. Each group then gives speeches to try and get more people to join them. In the end, the number of special votes each candidate gets helps decide how many delegates they will have.
Types of primaries and caucuses
- Primaries and caucuses can be “open,” “closed,” or a mix of both, depending on the rules set by the state and the political party.
- In an open primary or caucus, people don’t need to be registered with a political party to participate and vote.
- In a closed primary or caucus, only those who are registered with that specific party can participate and vote.
- “Semi-open” and “semi-closed” primaries and caucuses are different versions of these two main types.
Presidential General Election
Every four years, people in the United States choose their president and vice president in a big voting event called the general election.
How it works?
People who want to be president or vice president are picked by big political groups at a special meeting called a national convention. The candidates’ names will be listed on the general election ballot.
Smaller political groups and people who aren’t part of any group might not have a big meeting like that. But they can still be on the voting paper in some places if they meet certain rules. This often means getting a lot of people to sign a special paper for that place.
Voting in the presidential election
In the presidential general election, citizens who are registered can:
- Vote even if they did not vote in their state’s primary elections
- Vote for any presidential candidate, regardless of the party they are registered with or who they voted for in the past
Election Day and Beyond
Voting Procedures:
- Citizens vote on the first Tuesday in November.
- Voting options include in-person, mail-in ballots, and early voting in many states.
- Voters are assigned polling places, and procedures vary by state.
Counting the Votes:
- Poll workers begin counting votes after polls close.
- Absentee and mail-in ballots may take additional time, depending on state processing rules.
- State election authorities certify the official results after counting and validating all ballots.
Electoral College Votes and the Inauguration:
- In December, electors meet in each state to cast votes based on the popular vote results.
- Electoral votes are counted by Congress in early January; 270 votes are required to win.
- The president-elect is officially inaugurated on January 20, marking the start of their term.
Also Read: One Nation, One Election
