The American Presidential election process – a primer

The American electoral system can be somewhat difficult to follow – for Americans as well as on-lookers from outside the USA. Here’s a quick, high-level overview of the American process.

Presidential elections are held every four years in America, with the elections held the first week in November. Before we get to election day, however, each of the political parties has to select the candidate who will represent that party in the general election. Typically we see one Republican candidate, one Democrat candidate, and perhaps an independent candidate not affiliated with those two major parties.

For the parties to select the candidate to represent them in this general election, we hold primary elections in each state. In the primary election, voters vote within their political party for the candidate they want. The candidate who wins the most state primary elections for their party generally becomes the candidate on the November ballot.

The first state to host a primary election is Iowa (Feb. 1), followed by New Hampshire and then South Carolina. While these states technically have no more say in an election than others, because they are the first elections they can give a candidate momentum and visibility. The big primary election day is known as Super Tuesday – a day in which 12 states hold primaries. For this election cycle, Super Tuesday is on March 1.

This summer the main political parties host conventions – events with lots of festivities and rallies – to formally announce their candidate for the November election. After the summer conventions, it’s a sprint for the two main candidates to make their case to the American populace. Election day is Nov. 8.

American elections are also influenced by what is called the “electoral college process,” which can sometimes produce different results than the public voting process. It can be controversial, especially if the electoral college process produces a different result than the general election. A decent explanation of that process can be found here.