The election of the U.S President is a multi-stage process. It ensures Public participation with the electoral college and this feature of public participation validates the doctrine of Direct Election. Let’s know about these stages:
1.Presidential primaries and caucuses
- The election process starts with the primary elections and caucuses in each state. The two major political parties—Democrats and Republicans—conduct these elections primarily to nominate their candidates.
- Primaries in the term of the American presidential elections process is a standard way of voting and Caucuses are meetings of party members to discuss, select and vote for their preferred candidate.
- These events usually start in February of every election year and continue until late summer.
2. When are National party Conventions Held?
- After the primaries and caucuses each party conducts a national convention. In which they nominate their presidential candidates for both the positions — president and vice-president. This convention is often held in the summer of every election year.
- During the convention every party also set their manifestos, goals and policies after the finalization of the nomination. Once the candidate’s nomination is confirmed, he starts campaigning nationwide.
3. Presidential General Election Campaigning Process
- After the confirmation of one’s nomination, the candidate begins to start General election campaigning across the country, conducting rallies, political meetings, and several debates in all the states to convince voters.
- This campaigning process includes debates between presidential candidates and answers to the people. In these events Candidates demonstrate their leadership qualities so that they get support from the people and people know about the stances and opinions of the candidates about the running issues.
4. US Presidential Election Day
Election Day, which in the United States is the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of the election year, is when voting takes place. On this Day adult franchises of the US vote for their candidates.
The Electoral College
American do not elect their president by direct voting or by popular vote, instead, they have The electoral college system which is used only for presidential elections. Every state has a set of numbers of electors on the basis of population size, totaling 538.
Because these electors are solely elected for the presidential elections that is why in somehow the concept of Direct Voting is being applied in The US presidential election.
To Win
To win the presidential election, the candidate must require 270 electoral votes out of 538.
How Electoral Votes Are Allocated
In each state Winner Candidates take all the electoral votes. It means the popular votes of a state decide the victory of electors.
Electoral College Vote
In December These elected electors vote for the presidential and vice presidential candidates and these official casted votes are sent to the U.S Congress for counting.
Certification of Results
In early January, the newly elected congress counts votes and declares the results. The candidate which achieves 270 votes is being declared the winner. If no one candidate gets 270 votes then top 3 candidates are being voted by the House of Representatives but this practice rarely occurs. The electoral college clearly produces the Winner.
Inauguration Day
Finally the winning candidate takes oath on the inauguration Day which is 20th January and starts the presidential 4 year journey officially.
Conclusions
In short, the US presidential election is a multi-stage process, including primaries, caucuses, debates and conventions which ensures the full participation of the people of America. Another characteristic of the election is that, due to the establishment of electoral colleges, the principles of direct voting are largely used in presidential elections.