The U.S. Presidential Election Process

Political parties hold primary elections. People who are members of a political party vote in a primary election. A primary election is to choose their candidate for president. Primary elections happen in the spring of an election year.

Political parties count the votes from the primary elections. The winner becomes their candidate for president. The political party nominates their candidate at a convention. The conventions happen in the summer of an election year.

Candidates for president campaign. In a campaign, they ask people to vote for them. In a campaign they give speeches. In a campaign they make commericals. In a campaign they have debates.

The presidential election is on a Tuesday in November. Registered voters vote for the candidate they want as president. Each candidate gets electoral college votes from the states they win.

After the general election, the Electoral College votes. Delegates vote based on the results from the general election. This happens in December.

On January 27 of the following year, the new president is inaugurated. The new president has to take an oath. An oath is a promise. The new president promises to uphold the constitution.