How American Election Works

In the event no candidate receives a majority the house of representatives chooses the president and the senate chooses the vice president.

How american election works. The presidential elections take place every four years and those over 18 years of age can vote. In addition to voting for president americans will also choose candidates in various federal state and local elections. Elections is the first past the post system where the highest polling candidate wins the election.

Here s how the system w. Both parties choose a candidate to represent the party. The candidate then chooses a running mate who would become vice president if the campaign is successful.

To win the election a candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes. The total number of electors is. The most common method used in u s.

In modern elections the popular vote at a state level is still technically a vote for the electors but these electors are expected to convey the will of that vote. When they are casting their vote it is seen that the votes are being cast by the group of american people known as the general electorate with these votes being referred to as the popular vote. Among the federal races are elections for the us house and us senate the.

Across the entirety of the us there are 538 electoral college votes. The number of electors per state is roughly. The presidential elections are always held on the first tuesday in november.

Under this system a candidate only requires a plurality of votes to win rather than an outright majority. In the general elections the people from every state in the country cast their votes for the president and the vice president of the country. Instead presidential elections use the electoral college.