The process behind the U.S election

University courses Politics
,
1

The U.S. presidential election process consists of a series of key steps:

General Election (First Tuesday in November)

  • Voters Cast Ballots: On Election Day, voters in each state cast their ballots, technically voting for a slate of electors chosen by their preferred party, not directly for the presidential candidates.
  • Winner-Takes-All System: In most states, the candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. Only Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system to split electoral votes.

Electoral College Vote (Mid-December)

  • Electors Cast Official Votes: Each state has a set number of electors (totalling 538), equal to its total number of representatives and senators. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
  • Meeting of Electors: Electors meet in their state capitals to officially cast their votes. These votes are then sent to Congress.

Congress Counts Electoral Votes (Early January)

  • Formal Count by Congress: In a joint session in early January, Congress meets to count and certify the electoral votes. The candidate with a majority (270 or more) is declared the official winner.
  • Contingency for No Majority: If no candidate reaches 270, the election is decided by the House of Representatives, where each state delegation casts one vote to determine the winner.

Inauguration Day (January 20)

  • Swearing-In Ceremony: The new or re-elected president is officially sworn into office on January 20 at noon, marking the start of the new presidential term.

This process ensures that the Electoral College system, rather than a direct popular vote, determines the official outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

5 Likes
2

That is really informative. What do you think is the major difference between US election and UK election?

1 Like
3

The electoral college and presidential system are the main differences, as the electoral college decides how votes are allocated whereas UK just used FPTP.

2 Likes
4

Thank you for outlining the U.S. election process! How do you think the Electoral College impacts voter engagement and perceptions of democracy in the U.S.?

1 Like
5

The Electoral College impacts voter engagement by discouraging participation in safe states, while increasing focus on swing states can enhance engagement there. It creates perceptions of inequality, as not all votes carry the same weight, and can undermine trust in democracy when the popular vote and electoral outcome diverge. Overall, it may contribute to voter disillusionment and polarisation.

2 Likes
6

such a long process wow

3 Likes