Overview of the Presidential Election Process

An election for President of the United States occurs every four years on Election Day, held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next Presidential election will be held on November 3, 2020.

The election process begins with the primary elections and caucuses and moves to nominating conventions, during which political parties each select a nominee to unite behind. The nominee also announces a Vice Presidential running mate at this time. The candidates then campaign across the country to explain their views and plans to voters and participate in debates with candidates from other parties.

During the general election, Americans head to the polls to cast their vote for President. But the tally of those votes—the popular vote—does not determine the winner. Instead, Presidential elections use the Electoral College. To win the election, a candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes. In the event no candidate receives the majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President and the Senate chooses the Vice President.

The Presidential election process follows a typical cycle:

○  Spring of the year before an election – Candidates announce their intentions to run.

○  Summer of the year before an election through spring of the election year – Primary and caucus debates take place.

○  January to June of election year – States and parties hold primaries and caucuses.

○  July to early September – Parties hold nominating conventions to choose their candidates.

○  September and October – Candidates participate in Presidential debates.

○  Early November – Election Day

○  December – Electors cast their votes in the Electoral College.

○  Early January of the next calendar year – Congress counts the electoral votes.

○  January 20 – Inauguration Day