America is one of the most powerful countries in the world. So the election process of American presidential election is very complex and unique. It is conducted at an interval of 4 years. It is a one year process from January to November. Let us know this process step by step:
STEP1.SELECTION IN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS
Firstly, the parties select their candidates, mainly the Democratic and Republican parties, then nominate the selected candidates. This process is called primaries and caucuses.
Primary Election in American presidential Election
Primaries are conducted like regular elections, party members vote for their preferred candidate in a booth or via email. Delegates are given to the candidate based on the vote.
Caucus Election in American presidential Election
Caucuses are meetings held by political parties in the state. In caucuses, candidates are selected by secret ballot, but in other places voters gather in groups to show support for a candidate. Where party members discuss the candidate and select delegates.
STEP2.NATIONAL CONVENTIONS IN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
After the preliminary and final elections, all the parties organize their own national convention. And here the party announces the nominee for the post of President. In the national convention, the party also decides its vice president. This is a grand ceremony where the party’s agenda is also set.
STEP3.THE GERNAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
When the candidates of the parties are selected, they start their campaigns. And the candidates of both the parties (Democratic and Republican) take their ideas, policies, road map, plans to the people. And promote their policies through big rallies, media, news and advertising so that they can get maximum support from the voters. And there is also a live debate in which the candidate is given a chance to present his point of view and the candidate tells what are his plans for the problems in the country and what will he do for the development of the country. This goes on for about a year.
STEP4. ELECTION DAY IN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
In American presidential election , voting takes place on the first Tuesday of November. This is the day when people cast their votes. But Americans use the indirect voting system, in which citizens do not vote directly for the President but they vote for the electors. Then they elect their President through the state college system. The last voting date in America was 5 November 2024.
STEP5. THE ELECTORS COLLEGE
Electoral College is a unique system used for presidential elections. Its purpose is to create an indirect election process in which people do not vote directly for the President but vote for a group of representatives (electors) who elect the President and Vice President. Its purpose is to create a balance between small and big states. There are a total of 538 Elector Colleges. Which is according to the population of the state. California has the highest number of 54 Elector Colleges and Vermont has the lowest number of 3. The one who wins 270 Elector Colleges out of these is elected President of America.
STEP6.CERTIFICATION AND INAUGURATION
Congress certifies the vote
Vote counting is completed by the end of December. Then in January, Congress counts and certifies the votes. If a candidate secures 270 Electors College votes, that candidate is officially declared the President.
Inauguration
In American presidential election, the inauguration ceremony takes place on 20th January. In this, the elected president takes oath in front of the Chief Justice of the United Nations. After that the Vice President also takes oath. After the oath, the President gives a speech in which he shares his policies, vision, future goals. This speech decides how the tenure of the new President will be. The new President officially starts his work on the inauguration day
If no one gets a majority then
If no one gets majority, then in this condition America follows a special process which is called contingent. Its decision is taken through Congress. In which the House of Representatives elects the President. In which one vote is taken from each state. The one who gets majority 26 votes is elected President. Only top 3 candidates can participate in this who have got the most number of Electors College.
Vice President
The Senate elects the Vice President. Every Senate gives one vote, whoever gets majority 51 is elected Vice President. This happens only between 2 candidates.
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