Key points of Presidential election of America.

Tuesday after first Monday of November, American president election is conducted. For example, 1 st
November is on Tuesday, and then American president election would be conducted on Tuesday that
will come after first Monday. The date of American president election is not fixed. Total number of
Electoral College is 538. Out of it, president requires 270 seats inElectoral College. These 270 seats is
called absolute majority. If presidential candidate fails to get absolute majority then president’s election
transferred to HOR. In American history Jefferson became president through HOR. And Jackson 1824
president lose his president ship in HOR (House of Representatives).

Under the article of two of American constitution, American president is indirectly elected by the votes
of the people for the period of four years.

There are six stages of the election of American president. These stages are as follows:

a. Stage One. Testing The Voter

In this stage different candidates of each party float their names in different party meetings for coming
presidential election. The purpose is to test the opinion of the party workers. This stage is not a part of
constitution.

Step two. Primaries and Caucuses (Party level elections in States)

It means intraparty election for the nomination of presidential candidates of each political party. In
every state of USA, political parties conduct intra party election within the party to elect deligates by
secret voting. Later on, these deligates attend national convention of and cast their vote in the favour of
presidential and vice presidential nomeney. Hence, at thisstage, party workers cast their vote only.

34 U.S. states conduct primary elections.

Causus: A caucus is a local meeting where registered members of a political

party in a city, town or county gather to vote to elect their deligates. A caucus
is a substitute for a primary election to select delegates to the national party
convention. 16 states hold

caucuses to determine political party candidates.

There may be many people who want to be the president of United States of
America. Each of these people may have their own ideas about how the US
government should work. People with similar ideas usually align in the same
political party. But they need to win the favor of their party members first.

Candidates from each political party campaign throughout the country to win
the favor of their party members.

Step Three. National conventions of each parties:

• Once the primaries and caucuses are completed in each state, a national
convention is held in which a party’s nomination for president is formally
announced

to the public. During the convention, the elected delegates cast their vote for a
party candidate and the candidate with the most delegates gets the party’s
votes become a presidential and vice presidential candidate of its political
party for upcoming presidential eelection.

nomination. The end of the convention marks the beginning of the general
election process.

• Each party holds a national convention to finalize the selection of one

presidential nominee. At each convention, the presidential candidate chooses
a

running-mate (vice presidential candidate)

Republican Party conducts its national convention in the end of June or in the beginning of July. In this
convention, each party finalizes its president and vice candidate for incoming election.
Step Four. Election of the Electors

It is also called voting for Electoral College. Polling hours vary from State to State. The number of
Electoral College is equal to the number of the members of congress that is 538. General public cast
their votes to party list. The party list of any party get maximum vote, secure all the seats of that state.

Though in theory the voters cast their votes for Presidential electors (party list), yet in actual practice
such votes are cast keeping in view a particular candidate for the Presidency. Each of the States chooses
as many electors as it has senators and members of representative in Congress. Presidential electors are
chosen in each State as a group and not as individuals. All the nominees of the party which polls the
largest number of popular votes in a State are considered to be elected. Since the Electoral College is to
consist of 538 members a Presidential candidate can get elected only if he captures

270 votes of the electors. The system has its defect. A Presidential candidate capturing majority of votes
of Electoral College may not have captured majority of the popular vote.

Step Five. Election of the President by the Electors

Though voting by the Presidential electors is now a mere formality yet it continues to be observed.
According to the Congressional law, the Presidential electors meet on the second Wednesday of
December in their respective State capitals and cast their votes for Presidential and Vice-Presidential
candidates.

Step Six. Transmitting & Counting of Votes

The ballots are then counted and certificates attesting the result are promptly mailed in sealed covers to
Washington where they areopened in the presence of the members of congress. The President of the
senate counts the votes and announces the result. The final phase of the electoral process starts in the
Hall of the House of Representatives on 6th of January, in the presence of all the Congressmen, with the
President of Senate on the chair.

The Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates who secure absolute majority of votes, viz., more than
fifty percent, are declared elected. In case no candidate secures absolute majority, the members of
House of Representatives elect the President from amongst the three candidates who have attained
maximum number of votes. There is every possibility that the President elect may not have obtained
clear cut majority of the votes. Lincoln and Wilson, both could not attain clear majority vote at the first
count, though the number of their votes were comparatively higher to their adversaries.

On the other hand, if no Vice Presidential candidate obtains absolute majority of votes, the Senators
shall elect the new Vice President from amongst the two candidates who have attained maximum
number of votes. A simple majority vote of the Senate is required in this respect. According to the 20th
amendment of the Constitution, the new President shall take the oath of office on 20th of January
before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, if no Vice Presidential candidate
obtains absolute majority of votes, the Senators shall elect the new Vice President from amongst the
two candidates who have attained maximum number of votes. A simple majority vote of the Senate is
required in this respect. According to the 20th amendment of the Constitution, the new President shall
take the oath of office on 20th of January before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.