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Senators are elected representatives who serve in the United States Senate. Their election process is designed to ensure fair representation for each state and to allow citizens to choose their leaders directly.
How Senators Are Chosen
Senators are elected through popular vote in each state. Every six years, all 50 states hold elections to choose their senators. These elections are staggered so that only about one-third of the Senate seats are up for election at a time.
Election Process
During a Senate election, registered voters in a state cast their ballots for their preferred candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat. This process is called a “first-past-the-post” system.
Qualifications to Run
To run for Senate, a candidate must meet certain requirements:
- Be at least 30 years old
- Have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years
- Be a resident of the state they want to represent
These rules are set by the U.S. Constitution to ensure that candidates are qualified to serve in the Senate.