How is the US President elected?

Candidates must be born in the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have lived in the US for at least 14 years.

Once they decide to run and start spending more than $5,000 on their campaign, they have to register with the Federal Election Commission. It’s like the green light for the race to begin.

Let’s talk about primaries and caucuses

Primaries and caucuses resemble the preliminaries of the major tournament.

Voters select their preferred candidate in the primaries by secret ballot. Caucuses are more of a communal event when participants come together to talk about and support their candidate.

Once the primaries and caucuses are over, it’s time for the party conventions. Imagine, delegates from across the nation convening to formally propose their candidacy. That’s what party conventions are about! Cheers and speeches break out as each party aims for the White House.

What happens after voting?

The election takes place in November, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. Citizens from all throughout the country turn out for the polls.

Their votes count toward their state’s electoral votes when they cast their ballots for the president of their choice. But it’s not just about who gets the most votes—it’s about who gets at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win.

But wait, there’s more! After the people vote, it’s up to the Electoral College to make it official.

In December, voters gather to cast their ballots in line with the results of their state. Congress then tallies these votes and announces the winner in January.

Finally, the president-elect takes the oath of office on January 20th.

Thus, the US presidential election is a journey that begins with aspirant candidates and concludes with a new leader sworn in to lead the country; it is not just a one-day event.