Table of Contents
The process of selecting the President of the United States involves several steps, including elections and the Electoral College. This system ensures that each state has a role in choosing the leader of the country.
Presidential Elections
Presidential elections are held every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Citizens of the United States vote for their preferred candidate. These votes are called popular votes.
The candidate with the most votes in each state wins that state’s electoral votes. The number of electoral votes each state has depends on its population size.
The Electoral College
The Electoral College is a group of electors who officially select the President and Vice President. Each state has a set number of electors, equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress.
In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote also wins all of that state’s electoral votes. The electors then meet in December to cast their votes.
Winning the Presidency
A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes out of 538 to become President. If no candidate reaches this number, the House of Representatives chooses the President from the top three candidates. The Senate elects the Vice President if there is a tie.
This process ensures that the President is chosen through a combination of popular support and state representation.