The U.S. presidential election process has multiple stages:
- Primary Elections and Caucuses: In the early months before the general election, political parties hold primary elections or caucuses in each state. These events determine which candidate from each party will be nominated for the presidential race. Primaries are like standard elections, while caucuses are more like local gatherings where members discuss and vote for candidates.
- National Conventions: Once primary elections and caucuses are complete, each party holds a national convention to officially nominate their candidate for president. The chosen candidate then selects a vice-presidential running mate.
- General Election Campaign: Candidates from major parties (usually Democratic and Republican) campaign across the country, appealing to voters and participating in debates.
- General Election: Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters cast ballots, but technically, they’re voting for a slate of electors who represent each candidate. This is where the Electoral College comes into play.
- Electoral College: Each state has a certain number of electors based on its population, totaling 538 electors nationwide. A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win. Most states have a “winner-takes-all” system where the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all its electoral votes.
- Congressional Certification: In early January, Congress meets to count and certify the electoral votes. If a candidate has reached 270, they’re officially declared the winner.
- Inauguration: The president-elect is sworn in on January 20 in a formal ceremony marking the start of the new presidential term.
This process balances direct voting with the Electoral College system, designed to give states proportional influence based on their population.
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