Every four years Americans have the opportunity to vote for their preferred president and vice president. They do so by choosing their representatives, or electors, through a process known as the electoral college. The winner of a state’s electoral votes, or a majority of all 538 electoral votes, becomes the president of the United States. The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution establishes rules for situations in which no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes.
Once a presidential nominee is chosen, candidates spend their election cycle touring the country and speaking to voters. They also participate in debates. These debates are a chance for candidates to explain their policies, convey their likability and convince voters that they are qualified for the job. They are usually broadcast on national television.
The campaign season culminates in Election Day, which is always held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters cast their ballots for a president and vice president, as well as other federal, state, and local races.
With the exception of Maine and Nebraska, which have a winner-takes-all system, most states allocate their electoral votes based on their population in a proportional manner. As a result, it is relatively easy for a Democratic or Republican party nominee to win in most states. Nevertheless, candidates must focus exponentially more time and money in a few “swing states” to have any chance of winning a majority of electoral votes. This makes some critics of the Electoral College argue that it is undemocratic.