Electing the President

Presidential elections are to be held once every fourth year.In 1845, Congress enacted legislation providing a uniform date for the choice of electors in all states, establishing "Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November of the year in which they are to be appointed."

The nominating process officially begins with the first state primaries and caucuses, which usually occur in the month of February of the election year. It is at these local events that voters are given their first chance to participate in electing the nation’s next President.

The Electoral College is a method of indirect popular election of the President of the United States. Voters in each state actually cast a vote for a block of electors who are pledged to vote for a particular candidate. These electors, in turn, vote for the presidential candidate.

Each state is apportioned a number of electors equal to the total number of their Congressional delegation.

On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December after Election Day,, these electors assemble in their state capitals, cast their ballots, and officially select the next President of the United States.

The votes of the electors are then sent to Congress where the President of the Senate opens the certificates, and counts the votes. This takes place on January 6, unless that date falls on a Sunday. In that case, the votes are counted on the next day. An absolute majority is necessary to prevail in the presidential and the vice presidential elections, that is, half the total plus one electoral votes are required. With 538 Electors, a candidate must receive at least 270 votes to be elected to the office of President or Vice President.