US Presidential Election explained (explainity® explainer video)

explainitychannel

28 Aug 202005:21

Summary

TLDRThe video explains the process of the U.S. presidential election, from primaries to the general election. It begins with each party choosing a candidate through state-specific primaries where delegates are awarded based on votes. These delegates later select the candidate at national conventions. In the general election, voters indirectly elect the president through electors, who represent each state. Most states use a 'winner-takes-all' system, making swing states crucial. The Electoral College officially votes for the president, with the result confirmed by Congress in January, followed by the inauguration on January 20th.

Takeaways

🗳️ The U.S. presidential election occurs every four years, determining whether a Democrat or Republican will occupy the White House.
🔄 The election year begins with the primaries, where each party selects its presidential candidate through voting.
📋 Primaries vary by state; some allow all registered voters to participate, while others limit voting to registered party members.
🗓️ Super Tuesday is a key date when multiple states hold their primaries simultaneously, making it a pivotal moment in the race.
👥 Voters in the primaries are actually electing delegates who will support a candidate at the national convention.
🏛️ A candidate needs more than half of the delegates' votes at the national convention to secure their party's nomination.
🤝 If no candidate secures a majority of delegate votes, the party renegotiates, and delegates may vote for other candidates.
🗳️ The general election takes place in November, but voters do not directly elect the president; they elect electors who then vote for the candidate.
🌍 Each state is awarded a different number of electors based on population, with 48 out of 50 states using a winner-take-all system.
📅 After the general election, electors formally vote for the president, and the result is confirmed in Congress before inauguration on January 20.

Q & A

How often does the United States hold a presidential election?
-The United States holds a presidential election every four years.
What is the purpose of the primaries in the election process?
-The primaries are used to decide who will be the presidential candidate for each party, the Democrats and the Republicans.
Are all registered voters allowed to vote in the primaries?
-The eligibility to vote in the primaries varies from state to state. Some states allow every registered voter, while others restrict it to voters registered with a particular party.
What is 'Super Tuesday' in the context of the primaries?
-Super Tuesday is a cluster primary date when multiple states hold their primaries simultaneously.
How are delegates chosen in the primaries?
-Delegates are technically elected by the voters and then support a certain candidate in the primary. Each candidate is awarded a certain amount of delegates based on the votes they receive.
What happens at the national convention in relation to the presidential candidates?
-At the national convention, delegates officially vote for their candidates. A candidate must receive over half of the delegate votes to win the party's nomination.
What occurs if no candidate receives a majority of the delegate votes at the convention?
-If no candidate receives a majority, the party renegotiates its entries into the presidential race until a candidate is found.
When is the general election held in the United States?
-The general election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
How does the electoral vote system work in the United States?
-The electoral vote system involves electors who are awarded to each candidate based on the vote tally. Each state has a different number of electors depending on its population.
What is the 'winner takes all' principle in the electoral vote system?
-In 48 of the 50 states, the 'winner takes all' principle means that the winner of the state's popular vote gets all the electoral votes for that state.
What is the significance of swing states in the election?
-Swing states are states where both parties have an equally high chance of winning. They are significant because the electoral votes from these states can greatly influence the outcome of the election.
How is the president officially elected?
-The president is officially elected by the electoral college, which is the body made up of the awarded electors. They vote in their states, and these votes are counted in Congress.
When does the inauguration of the new president take place?
-The inauguration of the next president takes place on January 20th.

Outlines

00:00

🗳️ Overview of the U.S. Presidential Election Process

The U.S. presidential election happens every four years, where voters decide whether a Democrat or Republican will live in the White House. The process starts with primaries, where each party selects its presidential candidate. The rules for primaries vary by state—some allow all registered voters to participate, while others restrict it to those registered with a party. The primary results don't directly elect candidates; instead, delegates are chosen based on the votes. These delegates later vote for the candidate at the national convention, and if no candidate wins a majority, the process continues until one emerges. This primary phase helps determine the two major candidates who will face off in the general election.

05:01

📅 General Election and the Role of Electors

The general election occurs on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters cast their ballots, but they don't directly elect the president. Instead, the votes determine how many electors each candidate receives. Each state has a specific number of electors, depending on its population, and in 48 out of 50 states, the winner takes all the electors. Swing states, where either party has a strong chance of winning, are crucial in deciding the election. A candidate needs more than half of the 535 total electors to win. After Election Day, the electors officially vote for the president, and Congress counts these votes to finalize the election. The new president is inaugurated on January 20th, officially ending the election year.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Primaries

Primaries are elections held by political parties (Democrats and Republicans) to determine their presidential candidates. In the U.S. election process, voters select delegates who support specific candidates, and these delegates later vote for the nominee at the party's national convention. The primary system varies across states, with some allowing all registered voters to participate and others restricting it to party members.

💡Delegates

Delegates are representatives who support presidential candidates during the primary elections. Voters do not directly elect the presidential candidates but rather vote for delegates pledged to a candidate. At the national convention, these delegates vote for the candidate they represent, and a candidate needs over half of the delegate votes to win the party's nomination.

💡National Convention

The National Convention is a formal gathering of a political party where delegates cast their votes to officially nominate the party's presidential candidate. This event is the culmination of the primary process, and a candidate must secure a majority of delegate votes to become the nominee. If no one gets a majority, further negotiations or voting rounds take place.

💡General Election

The General Election is the final phase of the U.S. presidential election process, where voters over 18 cast their votes to choose the president. Held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the general election determines the distribution of electors in each state, which are crucial for electing the president via the Electoral College system.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the body that officially elects the president of the United States. Each state has a set number of electors based on its population, and the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state typically receives all of its electoral votes. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure more than half of the 535 electoral votes.

💡Electors

Electors are individuals chosen to represent each state's vote in the Electoral College. The number of electors per state is based on population, and in most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote gets all the state's electoral votes. These electors cast the actual votes for president 41 days after the general election.

💡Swing States

Swing states, also known as battleground states, are states where both major political parties have a strong chance of winning in the general election. These states are crucial because their outcomes are difficult to predict, and they often decide the overall result of the election. Candidates focus significant resources and campaign efforts in swing states.

💡Winner-takes-all

The winner-takes-all system refers to how electoral votes are distributed in most states. In 48 out of 50 states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all of its electoral votes. For example, even if a candidate wins only slightly more than half the vote, they get all the electors from that state.

💡Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday is a day during the primary election season when many states hold their primary elections simultaneously. It is a critical point in the election year, as it often gives a clear indication of which candidates are likely to secure their party's nomination based on the large number of delegates awarded on this day.

💡Inauguration

The inauguration marks the formal start of a new presidential term in the United States. It occurs on January 20th following the general election and the Electoral College vote. During the inauguration, the president-elect takes the oath of office and officially becomes the president of the United States, concluding the election process.

Highlights

The U.S. presidential election occurs every four years, determining whether a Democrat or Republican will live in the White House.

The election process begins with the primaries, where each party selects its presidential candidate.

Primary election rules vary by state—some allow all registered voters to participate, while others limit participation to party members.

Super Tuesday is a key event where multiple states hold their primaries on the same day.

Voters in primaries don't elect the presidential candidate directly—they elect delegates who support a candidate.

Delegates are awarded to candidates based on the votes they receive in the primaries.

A candidate needs more than half of the delegate votes to win their party’s nomination at the national convention.

If no candidate gets the majority of delegate votes at the convention, the party renegotiates to find a candidate.

Once each party selects a candidate, the general election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

In the general election, voters don't directly elect the president—they vote for electors in the Electoral College.

Each state has a different number of electors, based on its population, and the winner in most states takes all the electors.

In swing states, where both parties have an equal chance of winning, candidates focus heavily on campaigning.

There are 535 electors in total, and a candidate needs more than half of the electoral votes to win the presidency.

The final decision is made by the Electoral College, which officially votes for the president about 41 days after the election.

The next U.S. president is inaugurated on January 20th, formally ending the election process.