Electoral Process

Electoral Process

There are very many elections each year in America. Though the most important, the national election for president is held every four years. These elections are far from simple in terms of organization. The process for a national election lasts nearly a year.

A party must provide nominated people to stand for election. 'Primary election' is the term used in America for the elections which will select the two parties' presidential nomination. The primary elections start in January of election year and can last until June in what is called the "primary season". Registered voters vote for their delegates. Since 1952 the first primary election has traditionally been in New Hampshire.

Of those nominated, only one is selected by the party delegates at the national conventions. This takes place during the summer. The voting body at a national convention is made up of delegates. The delegates, once at a convention, vote for a candidate for the presidential election. The vice-president is also announced at the national convention. Also at the conventions, each party's policy platform is announced. This is essentially what each party plans to do if elected by the people. After the national conventions, the two parties' presidential hopefuls can concentrate on campaigning for the ultimate prize in American politics.

Each state has a number of delegates attached to it who are members of the state's Electoral College. It is these people who the voters in that state are in reality voting for as most of these delegates are voted for at the same time as the presidential election. The number of delegates a state gets is dependent on its population and its representation in the House of Representatives. The election of the electors and congress takes place on the first Tuesday in November.

The presidential election is done on a winner-take-all