The Process of the Presidential Election in the USA

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The Process of the Presidential Election in the USA

The presidential election of the U.S is an indirect voting process that dates back in 1792. This presidential election process is established under the law in the constitution of the United States, and has been modified by the latest 23^rd amendments (Coleman, Cantor, and Thomas 24). According to the U.S constitution, the presidential elections are held after every four years with the president constitutionally allowed to serve a maximum of two terms. The elections are conducted in November on a Tuesday that falls between 2^nd and 8^th day of the month. Constitutionally, a presidential candidate must be over 35 years in age, a citizen of the U.S by birth, and must have resided in U.S for at least 14 years prior to the election (Schantz 322).

The presidential electoral process commences nearly one year before the election date with the party primaries and nominations. Independent, minor, and major political parties’ candidates start raising money and marshalling financial support prior to the party nominations. The party nomination process officially starts in February of the U.S. election year, with state caucuses and primaries (Schantz 323). These local events give the eligible voters first opportunity to participate in the upcoming presidential election, hence marking the beginning of this important lengthy and competitive process. The presidential election of the U.S is conducted in four steps:

Step I: Primaries and Caucuses (Party Nominations)

Since there may be a number of interested candidates from the same party, the party (guided by its constitutions) conducts party primaries to elect their flag bearer for the presidential election. In the caucuses and primaries, legible party members vote to determine the party presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Some parties hold conventions (large party meetings attended by party ‘delegates’) (Coleman, Cantor, and Thomas 56-7). The selection of party delegates may either be conducted by state caucuses (public voting) or state primaries (secret ballot method). Some parties chose their delegates based on the delegate’s party prominence (Schantz 327). The winner of the party’s nomination must garner majority votes of the delegates.

Step 2: National Conventions

After the party primaries and caucuses have been completed and the party has settled on their preferred (popular presidential candidate), the party then holds its national convention in order to finalize on the party’s presiden.............