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  • 4 novembre 2016

The US Presidential Elections

The 2016 United States presidential elections are scheduled for Tuesday, 8 November. Traditionally polling day is always the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The president holds office for a period of 4 years and cannot be elected to the office more than twice. To run for president a candidate needs to be a 'natural‑born' US citizen, at least 35 years of age, and have been resident in the USA for at least 14 years.

The election process begins with primary elections and caucuses and moves to nominating conventions, during which the political parties each select a nominee to unite behind. The nominees also announce their running mate, candidate for vice president, at this time. The candidates then campaign across the country, explaining their views and plans to voters and participating in debates with candidates from other parties.

Unlike in other US elections, the president and vice president are not elected directly by the people. Instead, they are chosen by 'electors' through a process called the Electoral College. Each of the 50 US states has a set number of electors proportionate to its size. For example, a large state such as California has 55 electoral votes, while tiny Washington DC only gets three. It is then these electors who cast direct votes, known as electoral votes, for president and vice president. Technically the electors can vote for anyone, but almost all electors are pledged to vote for a particular presidential candidate. There are 538 electors and to win a majority and become president a candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes.

The idea of using electors comes from the Constitution. The nation’s founders saw it as a compromise between electing the president by a popular vote among citizens and electing the president in Congress.

On 26 July 2016 Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and Senator from New York, became the Democratic Party's presidential nominee after defeating Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders. Clinton has chosen Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine to be her running mate.

On 19 July 2016 businessman and reality television personality Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presidential nominee, after defeating Senator from Texas Ted Cruz, Governor of Ohio John Kasich, Senator from Florida Marco Rubio, Governor of Florida Jeb Bush and other candidates in the Republican primary elections. Trump has chosen Governor of Indiana Mike Pence to be his running mate.

Third party and independent presidential candidates are also running in the election - Libertarian Party nominee and former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson, Green Party nominee and former physician Jill Stein, chief policy director for the House Republican Conference Evan McMullin and others will appear on the ballot in at least some states, or are running as write-in candidates.

Polls are tightening as the race to become the 45th President of the United States enters its last week, with Donald Trump attempting to capitalise on the latest email scandal around Hillary Clinton.

On Inauguration Day, 20 January 2017, the winning candidates are sworn into office as president and vice-president of the United States. The new terms of office officially begin at noon in Washington DC.