Context:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was recently elected as the US president for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history.

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Donald Trump is set to become the 47^th President of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.

• At 78, Trump is the oldest elected president in US history. 

Trump also became only the 2nd President in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland, who did two stints in the White House from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.

How the U.S. Elects its President

Electoral College System:

The U.S. President is elected indirectly through an Electoral College rather than by direct popular vote. Thus, the candidate who wins the popular vote need not become the President.

• For example – in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton got more popular votes than Donald Trump but Trump won the most electoral votes, becoming the 45th US President. 

Each state has a set number of Electoral Votes (EVs), which are equal to the number of Senators and Representatives from that State.

There are 538 Electoral Votes in the U.S. Electoral College. A candidate must secure a minimum of 270 out of 538 EVs to become the US President.

The electoral process is in line with the federal system of the US. The electoral college system was introduced to make sure that even smaller States, like, say, Delaware and South Dakota, have a say in the process. 

Winner-Takes-All Approach:

In most states, the candidate who wins the majority vote in a state receives all its Electoral Votes.

• For example – if Kamala Harris wins California, all the 54 Electoral Votes from the State will go to her. Likewise, if Trump wins Texas, he gets 40 Electoral Votes.

Only Maine and Nebraska use a proportional allocation, splitting EVs based on statewide and district-level outcomes.

Stages of the US Presidential Election

Stage 1: Primaries and Caucuses 

• Primaries are state-level elections where voters anonymously select a party’s presidential candidate through secret ballots, held 6-9 months before the general election. States may hold open or closed primaries based on party affiliation rules.
• Caucuses are party-run gatherings where members discuss, debate, and then vote openly to choose their preferred candidate. The results determine the number of delegates each candidate receives for the party’s national convention.

Stage 2: National Conventions 

• National Conventions are events where each party formally nominates its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, with delegates voting based on primary and caucus results.
• It shifts the campaign focus from party-specific competition to the general election campaign, thus unifying the party around one candidate.
• At conventions, the presidential nominee announces a vice-presidential running mate, who is first in line for presidential succession and serves as President of the Senate.

Stage 3: General Election 

• Voting for the U.S. President usually happens on the first Tuesday of November, every four years.
• When voters in each state cast their ballots, they are actually selecting electors who pledge to support a specific presidential candidate. These electors then cast their official votes in the Electoral College in December. 
• The presidential nominee with the most electoral votes becomes the President of the United States. 

Stage 4: Electoral College 

• The Electoral College is the final step in electing the U.S. President, where electors, based on each state’s congressional representation, cast votes to determine the President. 
• There are 538 electors, and the candidate who wins 270 votes becomes President. The new President and Vice President are inaugurated in January.