The presidential race is an incredibly high stakes contest that can shape the political future for decades. The race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is expected to be particularly close. As voters head to the polls in November, it’s important to understand the process of how a President is elected.
Candidates from the two major political parties – the Democrats and Republicans – start their campaigns by announcing their candidacy for President. The campaign trail then takes them across the country to raise funds and meet with voters. The campaign is often highlighted by televised debates.
Although debates can make headlines, they generally do not change the fundamental dynamics of the race. While a good or bad performance can affect voters, most people watching the debate are tuning in to support their favored candidate, not to be persuaded to switch sides.
Throughout the election year, each state holds a series of primary elections and party caucuses to allow voters to express their preferences. State delegates representing the winners of these contests then go to national party conventions where they vote to select the final presidential nominee from each party.
Except in Maine and Nebraska, the presidential winner is determined by the Electoral College a system in which each state’s electoral votes are awarded according to its population size. A candidate must receive 270 electoral votes to become president. In the case of a tie, Congress decides who should serve as president pursuant to the Twentieth Amendment.