A Simple Overview of the 2024 US Presidential Election

In November 2024, Americans will go to the polls to select their next president. Given the influence of the occupant of the White House on domestic and global affairs, the outcome of this election carries significant importance for everyone. The US political landscape is currently dominated by two parties, and all recent presidents have belonged to one of them. The Democratic Party is considered liberal, advocating for civil rights, an extensive social safety net, and measures to combat climate change. The party's current representative is President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term. On the other hand, the Republican Party, also known as the GOP or Grand Old Party, represents conservative values such as lower taxes, limited government, gun rights, and stricter immigration and abortion policies. The party has yet to choose its presidential candidate for the upcoming election. Scheduled for November 5, 2024, the 2024 election will bestow a four-year term in the White House to the winner, beginning in January 2025. The campaign for this election is already well underway, with 15 initial candidates, including nine Republicans, four Democrats, and two independents. However, several individuals have dropped out of the race since then. The process of nominating presidential candidates involves a series of state primaries and caucuses, which differ across states. A notable date in this process is "Super Tuesday," occurring on March 3, during which more than a dozen states hold their primary contests. President Biden announced his re-election bid and is widely expected to secure the Democratic Party nomination. On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump has already won the initial state contests and appears to be the presumptive nominee. Additionally, there are independent candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running for president. Candidates vie for electoral college votes rather than a nationwide popular vote. Each state is allocated a specific number of electoral college votes based in part on its population, totaling 538 votes overall. The candidate securing 270 or more electoral college votes becomes the winner. This system led to situations like Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote in 2016 but losing the election due to the electoral college. Except for two states, the winner-takes-all rule applies, meaning the candidate with the highest number of votes in a state receives all of its electoral college votes. Since most states tend to lean towards one party, attention mainly focuses on a handful of battleground states where either party has a chance of winning. While the focus is often on the presidential race, voters also elect new members of Congress, the legislative branch of the government. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 Senate seats are up for grabs. Currently, Republicans control the House, while Democrats hold the majority in the Senate. These two chambers can act as a check on the president's plans if the controlling party disagrees. To be eligible to vote in the presidential election, one must be a US citizen aged 18 or over. Generally, a winner is declared on the election night, although in 2020, it took a few days to count all the votes. The period following the election, referred to as the transition, involves the incoming administration forming and making plans for the new term. The official inauguration of the president takes place in January, held at the Capitol building in Washington DC. This ceremony marks the start of the new administration, including the appointment of cabinet members.