How US Presidential Election Is Conducted – Explained

The US presidential election is a complex, multi-step process that involves both voters and an Electoral College system. Here’s a detailed explanation.

The US president and Vice President are not directly elected by the citizens. They are chosen by the “electors” by the “Electoral Colleges” who vote accordingly as per the respective vote wishes from each state.

The USA is not a two-party system. The modern political party system in the US is dominated by the two parties the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. There are numerous minor or third parties. The Anti-Masonic Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, Reform Party, Independents, etc have won elections throughout history at different levels, but the success of those parties is sparse.

Around eighteen/twenty months before the due date of the Election the Process gets started. POTUS – The president of the United States – all the security agencies engaged in his or her security called the President as POTUS. He or She is the elected head of state and head of Government. He or She leads the Executive Branch. And Commander-in-Chief of armed forces.

POTUS is elected for a year term. He or She can be elected for two terms only. The two-term restriction was introduced after the constitutional amendment in 1951. US President’s Election is INDIRECT. We need to understand the process of the POTUS election and the various terminology used while conducting the election. These are as follows:

The Process Of POTUS Election

1. Primaries & Caucuses
2. National Convention
3. General Election
4. Electoral College
5. Inauguration

From February to June all the primaries and caucuses are completed and in the month of July National Convention and in November General Election and finally in the month January Inauguration takes place.

US Constitution’s Requirement For A Presidential Candidate

1. Natural Born Citizen
2. Minimum age 35 years
3. At least 14 years US Resident

Before explaining the process we need to understand the Terminology — Voting by People

Absentee Ballot/Absentee Voting & Mail Ballot

An Absentee ballot is generally used in every state to refer to a ballot filled out by a voter who cannot, for various reasons, physically make it to a voting location on Election Day.

A mail-in ballot is used more broadly to refer to ballots sent through the mail, including in all mail voting states and some forms of absentee voting.

The Parties

Republican Party –

It is referred to as the Grand Old Party (GOP). Its main rival is Democratic Party. The GOP was founded in 1854 by opponents of the Kansas- Nebraska Act, which allowed for the potential expansion of slavery into the western territories.

Symbol of Republican Party is Elephant

Democratic Party

Democratic Party’s history can be traced back to Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic Republican Party. The Modern Day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson.

Symbol of democratic Party is Donkey/Ass

1. Primaries & Caucuses

Purpose

These are the first steps in the election process where each political party selects its nominee for the presidency. In the US Presidential election process, the caucus and the primary are both part of the nominating stage. The first event is typically the lowa caucus, which is followed by the New Hampshire primary. This order has become a tradition, with lowa holding the first caucus and New Hampshire holding the first primary, helping to set the tone for the nomination season.

Definition & Structure Of Caucuses & Primaries

Caucus

A meeting of registered party members to choose candidates for the party nomination in the Presidential race. Caucus can take hours, as voters will gather to hear out supporters of various candidates, debates, issues and ultimately come to a conclusion about who will make the best presidential nominee. ( A registered voter in the US presidential election is an individual who has taken the necessary steps to register with the election authority in their state or territory. Registration confirms their eligibility to vote in elections, including the presidential election).

A caucus plays a significant role in the US presidential election process, particularly during the primary phase. It is a method used by some states for selecting a political party’s candidate for the presidential election and involves active participation from party members.

A caucus is a local gathering of party members to discuss and vote on candidates seeking their party’s nomination. Instead of voting privately as in a primary election, caucuses are public events where participants openly show support for their chosen candidate, often through discussion and physical positioning.

• Local Meetings: Caucuses are organised at the precinct, county, or district level. Party members convene in places like schools, community centers, or even private homes.
• Public Discussion: Participants debate and advocate for their preferred candidates. This is followed by a voting process, which may involve raising hands, forming groups, or using other visible methods of support.

Caucus Procedures

• Initial Voting: Participants physically gather in groups representing their preferred candidates. If a candidate does not receive a minimum percentage of support (usually 15%), their supporters are given the opportunity to join another group, advocate for their candidate, or leave.
• Realignment: After the initial round, participants who supported non-viable candidates can realign with a different candidate. This phase allows participants to persuade others and shift the balance of support.
• Final Tally: Once realignment concludes, a final count is taken, and the number of delegates each candidate receives is determined.

Purpose Of A Caucus

• Delegate Allocation: The primary function of a caucus is to allocate delegates to candidates. These delegates will represent the state’s voters at the party’s national convention, where the presidential nominee is formally chosen.
• Grassroots Engagement: Caucuses foster active participation and discussion among party members, encouraging greater involvement in the democratic process. This format allows for a more deliberative selection process compared to primaries, but it can also be time-consuming and complex.

States Using Caucuses

Caucuses are less common than primaries. Notable examples include the Iowa caucuses, which traditionally serve as the first major electoral event of the nomination process. The outcomes of early caucuses can significantly influence a candidate’s momentum.

Conclusion

Caucuses are a unique and traditional method of selecting candidates, reflecting grassroots democratic engagement. However, they have been gradually replaced by primaries in many states due to concerns about inclusivity and accessibility. Despite this, caucuses remain a key part of the early presidential selection process in states like Iowa and Nevada, shaping the momentum and narrative of the election season.

Purpose Of Primaries

In the US presidential election process, primaries serve a crucial role in determining each political party’s nominee for president.

Purpose of Primaries

• Nomination Process: Primaries allow registered voters to select their preferred candidate for the presidency within a political party. The results determine how many delegates each candidate will have at the party’s national convention, where the official presidential nominee is chosen.
• Filtering Candidates: With often a large field of candidates, primaries help narrow the options down to a single nominee per party. This process is essential for gauging public support for candidates.

Types Of Primaries

Primaries can vary significantly based on how they are conducted:

• Closed Primaries: Only registered party members can vote in their party’s primary. For example, if you are a registered Democrat, you can only vote in the Democratic primary.
• Open Primaries: Any registered voter can participate in either party’s primary, regardless of party affiliation. However, voters can only choose to vote in one party’s primary.
• Semi-Closed Primaries: Registered party members can only vote in their party’s primary, but unaffiliated voters are allowed to choose which primary to vote in.
• Top-Two Primaries: All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same primary ballot. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party.

The primary process sets the stage for the general election by solidifying the candidates for each major party. It also helps define the key issues that will be debated in the presidential campaign, as candidates often adjust their platforms based on feedback from primary voters. Overall, primaries are fundamental to the democratic process in the US, providing a structured way for political parties to select their candidates while engaging voters in the electoral system.

2. National Convention

The National Convention plays a pivotal role in the US presidential election as a key event where political parties officially nominate their candidates for president and vice president. It is a high-profile gathering of party delegates, party leaders, and members that has both ceremonial and strategic purposes. Here’s an overview of its role:

Official Nomination Of Candidates

• The primary function of the National Convention is to formally nominate the party’s candidates for president and vice president. Delegates from across the country, who were selected during the primaries and caucuses, cast their votes to finalise the party’s nominees.
• Delegate Votes: If a candidate has already secured a majority of the delegates through the primary process, the nomination is often a formality. However, in cases where no candidate has a clear majority, the convention becomes crucial in determining the nominee, sometimes involving multiple rounds of voting.
• Each party uses the convention to adopt an official party platform, a document that outlines the party’s core values, policies, and goals. This platform serves as a guide for the party’s candidates and sets the agenda for the general election campaign.
• Debate & Approval: Delegates discuss and vote on various issues to shape this platform. The process highlights the party’s stance on key national and international issues.
• National Conventions are a major opportunity to bring together different factions within the party, especially after a sometimes divisive primary season. Party leaders and prominent figures deliver speeches aimed at unifying supporters and rallying them around the chosen nominee.
• High-Profile Speeches: Speeches by the presidential and vice-presidential nominees, former presidents, and rising party stars are designed to inspire and energize the party base. These speeches often receive extensive media coverage and serve as a springboard for the general election campaign.

Launching The General Election Campaign

• The convention marks the transition from the primary season to the general election campaign. After the convention, the nominee’s campaign strategy is retooled to appeal to a broader national audience, beyond just the party faithful.
• Media Attention: The event generates significant media coverage, allowing the party to present a cohesive vision and outline its case for why its candidates should be elected.

Delegate Process & Rules

Delegates at the convention are either pledged (bound to support a particular candidate based on the results of their state’s primary or caucus) or unpledged (free to vote for any candidate). The latter group, also known as superdelegates in the Democratic Party, often includes party officials and leaders.

In summary, the National Convention is crucial for setting the tone of a party’s campaign, showcasing party unity, finalising the candidates, and energising voters and volunteers for the general election. It serves both functional and symbolic purposes in the US electoral process.

3. General Election

The General Election in the US presidential election is the final stage where voters across the country select the President and Vice President of the United States. It is a national event held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years. Here’s a detailed look at its role:

Nationwide Voting

• The General Election is when all eligible voters in the United States cast their ballots for their preferred presidential and vice-presidential candidates. In addition to the presidential race, voters often decide other federal, state, and local offices, as well as ballot measures.
• Voting Process: Voters either cast their ballots in person on Election Day or through early voting and absentee/mail-in voting, depending on the rules of their state.

Popular Vote & Electoral College

The outcome of the General Election is determined through a combination of the popular vote and the Electoral College system:

• Popular Vote: This reflects the total number of votes each candidate receives nationwide. However, winning the popular vote does not necessarily guarantee the presidency.
• Electoral College: Voters are technically voting for a slate of electors who are pledged to vote for their chosen candidate in the Electoral College. The results of the General Election in each state determine how that state’s electoral votes are allocated. Most states use a winner-takes-all system, where the candidate with the most votes in the state gets all its electoral votes.

State-By-State Contests

• The General Election is essentially 51 separate elections (one for each state and the District of Columbia), and each state has a specific number of electoral votes. Winning enough states to secure at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes is necessary to become president.
• Swing States: States where the outcome is uncertain, known as swing or battleground states, receive significant attention from candidates because they can determine the election result.

Voter Participation & Influence

The General Election serves as a direct expression of the people’s will, allowing citizens to influence the future of national policies and leadership. Voter turnout in this election tends to be higher compared to other elections, reflecting the significance of the presidential race.

Impact On Governance

The General Election not only decides the president but also shapes the direction of US governance and policy. The outcome can lead to shifts in domestic and foreign policies, judicial appointments, and legislative priorities based on the winning party’s platform.

Conclusion

The General Election is a critical part of the democratic process in the US, providing voters the opportunity to have a say in the leadership and direction of the country. It culminates the election cycle, translating the will of the people into the official selection of the president and vice president, through the combined mechanisms of the popular vote and the Electoral College.

• Blue State – States where majority voters tend to vote for the Democratic Party.
• Red States – States where majority voters tend to vote for the Republican Party.
• Battleground State/Purple State/ Swing State – Large states, which have an electorate split relatively evenly between Democrats and Republicans is called a Swing State. The outcome of voting in these states is difficult to predict. Traditional battle ground states include Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
• Bellwether State – A state that tends to vote for the winning candidate. Ohio is a prime example of Bellwether state. It has not backed a losing Presidential candidate since 1960. (Note- Exit Poll and Opinion Polls are absolutely legal in the US.)
• Congress – Made up of two houses – The 435 member House of Representatives and the 100 members Senate. It is the legislative branch of the US Government.

4. Electoral College

The Electoral College is a fundamental part of the US Presidential Election System, established by the Constitution. It is not a physical college or institution but rather a process involving electors from each state who formally select the president and vice president. Here’s how it works:

Composition Of The Electoral College

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. This number comes from:

• 435 Representatives in the US House of Representatives.
• 100 Senators in the US Senate.
• 3 electors representing the District of Columbia (as granted by the 23rd Amendment).

Each state’s number of electoral votes equals the total number of its Senators and Representatives. For example, California, with the largest population, has 55 electoral votes (2 Senators + 53 Representatives), while smaller states like Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska each have 3 electoral votes.

How Electors Are Chosen

• Selection Process: Each political party in a state nominates a slate of electors before the general election. The process for selecting electors varies by state but often involves nomination at state party conventions or appointments by the party’s leadership.
• Winning Electors: When voters in a state cast their ballots for president, they are actually voting for the slate of electors pledged to their chosen candidate. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state (or district, in the cases of Maine and Nebraska) generally receives all of that state’s electoral votes (the winner-takes-all system).

Role Of Electors

• Electors convene in their respective state capitals on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December following the presidential election. During this meeting, they cast their votes for president and vice president.
• Vote Certification: These votes are then certified and sent to the President of the Senate, who reads them during a joint session of Congress in early January. If a candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538), they are declared the winner.

Contingency Procedures

If no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes, the election is decided by Congress. The House of Representatives elects the president, with each state delegation having one vote, while the Senate selects the vice president.

Criticisms & Debates

• Discrepancy with Popular Vote: The Electoral College has been criticized for allowing a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote, which has happened in a few cases (e.g., in 2000 and 2016).
• Swing State Focus: Candidates often focus disproportionately on so-called “swing states,” where the outcome is uncertain, while states with a strong leaning toward one party receive less attention.
• Proposed Reforms: There have been various proposals to reform or abolish the Electoral College, such as adopting a national popular vote, but these efforts have yet to succeed.

In essence, the Electoral College is a mechanism designed to balance the influence of populous states with that of smaller states, but it remains a topic of significant debate regarding its democratic fairness.

5. Inauguration

The Inauguration of the President of the United States is a significant event marking the official beginning of a new presidential term. It takes place on January 20th following the election year and involves a series of ceremonial and constitutional proceedings that formalise the peaceful transfer of power. Here’s an in-depth look at its significance:

Peaceful Transfer Of Power

• The Inauguration signifies the orderly transition of authority from the outgoing president to the incoming president. This tradition, which has been upheld since the first presidential inauguration of George Washington in 1789, is a hallmark of American democracy.
• Symbolic Importance: It showcases the stability of the democratic system and the acceptance of election results, reinforcing the idea that the office belongs to the people, not any one individual.

Oath Of Office

A critical component of the Inauguration is the Oath of Office, which the president-elect must take before assuming the powers of the presidency. The oath is mandated by the US Constitution and is administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It states:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Taking the oath is a legal requirement that signifies the president’s commitment to uphold the Constitution and perform the duties of the office.

Inaugural Address

After taking the oath, the new president delivers the Inaugural Address. This speech outlines the administration’s vision, priorities, and goals, and often serves to inspire unity and hope. It sets the tone for the coming term and can have a lasting impact on the national agenda.

Public & Ceremonial Aspects

• The Inauguration is a public event that typically includes a variety of ceremonies, such as a parade, musical performances, and celebrations. It emphasises the idea that the president is a representative of all Americans.
• Participation & Traditions: The outgoing president usually attends, symbolising continuity and respect for the electoral process, although there have been exceptions. Other traditions include the inaugural parade and balls.

Conclusion

In essence, the Inauguration is more than just a ceremony; it is a vital affirmation of democratic governance, symbolising both continuity and change. It embodies the core principles of the US political system: respect for the rule of law, the peaceful transfer of power, and the new administration’s duty to serve and lead the nation.