Since we’re already well into the run for the next United States (US) president, there are plenty things you might be wondering – such as what are the US election odds, and who’s running.
That being said, one main question many people have is – how is the next United States president chosen?
Many people from around the world, and even within the US, aren’t fully aware of how the process usually works. Choosing the next President of the United States is a fascinating and complex process that unfolds over several stages.
Let’s look at a brief rundown of how it all works.
The primaries and caucuses
What usually kicks everything off is the primaries and caucuses. These are essentially like the playoffs before the big game in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They usually start early in the election year, and involve the major political parties holding state-by-state contests to figure out who their main player will be in the presidential election.
Primaries are fairly straightforward – voters show up at polling places and cast their ballots. Caucuses are a bit more old school and involve local gatherings where voters can have discussions about the candidates and eventually vote for their top choice. The results of these primaries and caucuses determine how many delegates each candidate will have at the party’s national convention.
National conventions
Now, onto the conventions. Once the primary season wraps up, typically by early summer, each party then holds a national convention. A good way to think of this is like a giant party where delegates formally select their nominee for president.
The candidate with the greatest number of delegates usually wins the nomination on the first ballot. If the convention is contested, candidates will attempt to resolve potential delegate conflicts before casting the first ballot at the party convention.
During the convention, the party also unveils its platform, outlines its policies and goals, and then will likely select a running mate for vice president.
The general election campaign
The following summer and fall months are the part you often think of most when picturing elections, as this is when the general election campaign gets into full swing. The candidates from the two major parties—and any third-party or independent candidates—sweep the country, holding rallies, debates, and media appearances. This is all to try to win over voters and, crucially, secure electoral votes.
The electoral college
When voters cast their ballots in the general election, they’re technically voting for a slate of electors chosen by their party, not necessarily for the individual presidential candidates. Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress – the total number of senators and representatives.
Most states have a winner-takes-all system, meaning the candidate with the most votes in that state wins all its electoral votes. More on this can be explained here.
Election Day and beyond
Election Day is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. For the 2024 US election, this will be Tuesday 5th November.
Once the votes are counted, a candidate needs at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency. If no candidate ends up reaching this number, the decision goes to the House of Representatives, with each state delegation casting one vote for one of the top three candidates.
If there’s a clear winner, the transition period begins for the new president, including the handover and inauguration day.
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Now that you know how the next US president will be chosen, who do you think is most likely to end up in the White House next? Whether it’s for some political betting, or just to increase your political knowledge, this article has hopefully given you a better understanding on American politics leading up to the election.
