The presidential race is a competitive process in which voters choose a president and vice president. Voting is done by ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state has a number of so-called electoral college votes that correspond to its congressional representation. Ultimately, the candidate who wins 270 electoral votes is declared the winner and is inaugurated in January.
The election process begins with candidates from both major political parties vying for the nomination. Each party holds a series of primary elections and caucuses during the year before the election to allow voters to express their preferences. Delegates representing the winners of these contests attend nominating conventions to select their presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
Once a candidate has been nominated, they begin campaigning by hosting events and engaging in televised debates. During these debates, voters can hear each candidate’s stance on different issues and compare them to other candidates.
As the election draws closer, polls tighten and candidates shift their tactics. For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump — to his advantage. A recent national survey by Emerson College placed Newsom well ahead of Harris and Buttigieg among Democratic primary voters.
While the majority of voters are registered as Democrats or Republicans, there is a possibility that neither party will gain a clear victory. This is because most states – with the exception of Maine and Nebraska – have a winner-takes-all electoral system where the state’s seats are allocated to whichever party receives the most votes. As a result, most presidential candidates spend exponentially more time and money on so-called battleground or swing states.