National Elections
Basic Chronology
1. Candidates announce they will run
2. Primary election
3. Presidential debates
4. Election Day
5. Electoral College
6. Inauguration Day
Requirements
The United States Constitution requires a presidential candidate to
1. Be a natural born citizen (must be born in the United States or U.S. territories)
2. Be at least 35 years old
3. Be a U.S. citizen for 14 years
Announcement & Debates
Many eligible citizens announce that they will be running for president. These individuals campaign throughout the country and participate in debates to win the support of their party members. PIOW: At the start of the campaigns the candidates from both parties participate in televised debates. During the debates each candidate will have to answer tough questions about their policies as well as defend their stance on issues and policies against other candidates.
Primary/Caucus
In February, Primaries and Caucuses, which are the main voting events, culminate in the choosing of candidates to represent parties at conventions. Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina play a pivotal role here because the results from those states usually indicate who the final presidential nominee will be for each party
Primary: in the primary election, party members (U.S. citizens who chose to affiliate with a certain party) vote for the candidate who they want representing their party in the general election.
Caucus: in a caucus, party members chose the best candidate who they want to represent their party in the general election, through discussions and votes.
Running Mates & National Convention
In July, the resulting presidential nominees from the Primaries and Caucuses announce their “running mates”. Their “running mates” will become vice president when the nominee is elected president. State delegates, who are chosen at the Primaries and Causes, “endorse” their favorite candidates at the National Conventions. At the end of the conventions, the final presidential nominee is officially announced for each party.
General Election & Electoral College
In the general election, eligible voters across the United States vote for one president and one vice-president. The presidential election is not necessarily a popularity contest, the elected president does not always win by the popular vote. When voters cast their vote, they are voting for members of the electoral college, known as electors.
In the Electoral College, electors (representatives from each state) cast votes to determine the elected president. The number of electors in each state is proportional to the population in the state. 538 electors vote in this process. The president must have at least 270 electoral votes to win the election. The presidential nominee with the most electoral votes becomes the President of the United States.
Inauguration Day
In January, the elected president and vice-president are inaugurated, a ceremony which marks the beginning of their time in office.