The presidential election is one of the most important processes in American politics. A year before the elections, the campaigns start. When the campaigns start, all the candidates participate in televised debates. During these debates, all candidates have to answer tough questions about their policies and defend their stances on issues and policies against other candidates. The next step is the Primaries and Caucuses. Candidates from each party campaign to gain the favor of their party members. The voting starts in February. The voting leads to a selection of delegates who will represent the people at upcoming conventions. The focus is often on the results from Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina who can usually determine the final presidential nominee for each party. A Caucus is where party members choose the best candidate through a series of discussions and votes. A Primary is where party members vote for the best candidate to represent their party during the general election. The second step is the National Convention. Each party holds a national convention to select a final nominee. Delegates from the primaries and caucuses selected to represent the people endorse their favorite candidates. The final nominees from each party will be officially announced at the end of the conventions. The presidential candidates then campaign throughout the country to win the support of the general population. The third step is the General Election. During the general election people in every state vote for one presidential candidate and their running mate. When voters vote they actually vote for electors. In Maine and Nebraska if a candidate gets a majority then the candidate gets all electoral college votes of that state. The presidential candidate with the most electoral votes becomes the President of the United States. The final step is the Electoral College. The Electoral College is a process in which electors/representatives from each fate in number proportional to the state’s population cast their votes to decide who will be president. Each state gets a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress. A total of 538 electors are selected according to each state’s policy. Each elector casts 1 vote following the general election. The candidate to get more than 270 votes, half, wins. The newly elected President and Vice President are inaugurated in January.
