How does America elect its President? US election process simplified

The United States of America will elect its 47th president this year. Who holds the office of the president is crucial not only for the people of America but for the entire world, as the US general election plays a major role in shaping the global economy and influencing geopolitical dynamics.

The presidential election in the US is a long process that spans months. The process lasts for six to nine months before a candidate is finally elected, and it is one of the most complicated ones to grasp.

This time around, the United States is ready for a momentous election on November 5, as voters head to the polls in what looks to be a fiercely contested race. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are facing off in the battle, each hoping to secure the country’s leadership for the next four years. If elected, Kamala Harris will become the first woman president, while Donald Trump aims to make a comeback after his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden.

On the first Tuesday in November, millions of Americans will cast their ballots in a critical presidential election. In total, nearly 160 million voters are expected to submit their ballots this year, electing the next president along with deciding the state and local officials.

Here is everything you need to know about the intricate process of the US elections.

How is the President elected?

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5. A president serves a 4-year term, which will start from January 2025. In the US, the president isn’t elected by a popular vote, as is the case in most countries. Instead, the US follows a system that works through an electoral college.

The Electoral College is a body of electors or delegates that is elected by a large number of people. In the context of the US, it is a body of representatives who cast votes for the election of the president and the vice president.

So, what does this mean for the election process?

This simply means that rather than people directly voting for the president, the representatives chosen by the people, or the electors, formally vote for candidates to elect the president.

A total of 538 electors are among the states and the District of Columbia, and the number of electors in every state depends on its population. Each state gets a specific number of representatives that varies according to the population size as well as 2 senators to ensure that each state gets equal representation.

After the general election, each elector casts one vote in the Electoral College, and the candidate who secures more than 270 votes wins the election. This means the ongoing general election itself doesn't directly determine the president. Rather, it is part of a longer process that takes place over several months, leading to the final outcome.

How does the process work?

Unlike the system of popular votes, here, the candidate who gets the most votes in a state takes all the electoral votes of the state. For example, if in a state with X number of electoral votes, 10 people vote for candidate A and 11 people vote for candidate B, all X votes will go to candidate B, irrespective of the fact that 10 people voted for candidate A as well.

The disproportionate division of electoral votes based on the population of the state is seen by many as an unfair election process. Although two states, Maine and Nebraska, follow the proportional system of assigning electors, the rest of the 48 states along with Washington DC follow the system that makes some people’s votes more influential than others.

The example of Vermont and Texas explains how a vote of a Vermont resident matters three times more than someone from Texas due to their population sizes and the number of electors assigned to them. These electors are elected by people through voting events that take place before the election—primaries and caucuses.

Follow up to the election

Before the election actually takes place, people come together to vote for the delegates or electors who will represent them at the general election. They are organised to help the states and political parties determine their presidential nominees. This happens during the primary season.

The candidate who gets the most votes in these primaries and caucuses becomes the presidential candidate who collects delegates, who will then vote for him/her in the general election.

A delegate is a person who is authorised to represent people as an elected representative. The candidate that manages to get the most delegates on their side becomes the official presidential candidate for that political party.

Each party holds a national convention where these delegates choose their national candidate. They vote for their choice of candidate and the official result is announced at the end of the convention. When the presidential candidate is chosen, he/she chooses a vice presidential candidate, who is also referred to as the ‘running mate’. These candidates then run their campaigns all over the country to sway the public to their side.

While the US allows multiple political parties, the system is dominated by two main parties, with some independent candidates also running. The two major parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, often referred to as the Grand Old Party (GOP). Current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also a candidate in the upcoming election, are members of the Democratic Party. Their opponent, Donald Trump, represents the Republican Party.

The centuries-old Electoral College

The Electoral College system introduces several challenges, one of the most significant being the influence of swing states—states where the outcome of the election can shift either way. States like Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Ohio play a pivotal role in determining the winner, often tipping the balance in favour of one candidate over another.

The Electoral College system was established in the late 18th century, at a time when slavery was still prevalent in the US. The system has historically benefited Southern states, where the structure of electoral votes gave more weight to certain populations. This system has led to situations where candidates win the presidency without securing the popular vote, as seen with Donald Trump in 2016. Over the years, there have been numerous efforts to reform or abolish the Electoral College, but none have succeeded in bringing any material change. As a result, the system remains a point of contention in debates about fair representation in US elections.

The electors will officially cast their votes for president in December, but the outcome of the election will be largely clear once the general election ends in November. With Kamala Harris attempting to make history and Donald Trump aiming to make a comeback to the White House, this promises to be a highly anticipated and closely watched election.

What if there is a tie in the Electoral College?

In the rare event of an Electoral College tie or if no candidate wins a majority, the decision would then shift to Congress. The newly elected House of Representatives would choose the president—each state delegation cast a single vote, and the Senate would select the vice president by a simple majority. This situation could arise if a third-party candidate wins electoral votes or if "faithless electors" cast votes for someone other than the winning candidate in their state. The result could even lead to a president and vice president from different parties, like in 1824 and 1837.