How does the US voting system work?

Question

Edit: I'd like to clarify I that I'm mainly interested in presidential elections. Thanks for the answers so far :-)

Answer 1

In a presidential election, it begins early in that year (and the candidates usually campaign before then) with the primary elections. this is where registered voters of political parties can vote to choose the official candidate of their party. The big ones people pay attention to are the Democratic and Republican Nominations. There are actually others or can be, but the parties are typically too small. The candidate is decided by recieving a majority of delegate votes. Each state has a different number of votes based on population.
After the primaries, the general election is decided that Novemeber. Registered voters cast votes for Presidental, Congressional, State and Local officials as well as any state and local ballot issues. For deciding the President, the electoral college comes in. The votes are counted for each state and the winner of that state recieves a certain number of electoral votes. The votes are based on population and correspond to the number of congressional distrcts. California has 54 electoral, whereas a state with a smaller population like Alaska only has 3. The electoral college came into play big time in 2000 over the controvesy of Florida´s 23 electoral votes.

Answer 2

If you're referring to just general elections, you register to vote when you turn 18, or move to a different community. When election day comes, you go to your local voting precinct and vote. If you're referring to Presidential elections, it's a little more complicated. Each state has a number of electors equal to the total number of Representatives and Senators in Congress. When the election is held, the candidate with the most votes is supposed to get all the votes of the electors. The first candidate with 270 electoral votes wins the Presidency. As a footnote, there have been times when electors vote the other way, but it's extremely rare.

Answer 3

Each state has as many Electoral College votes as it has seats in Congress. Hence, Wyoming (the smallest state) has 3 electoral votes because it has 1 seat in the House and 2 in the Senate. California has 55 electoral votes because it has 53 in the House and 2 in the Senate. The District of Columbia also has 3 electoral votes.

Whichever candidate wins the most votes in Wyoming can rest assured that he/she will get all 3 of Wyoming's electoral votes. And the candidate who gets the most votes in California can usually rest assured that he/she will get all 55 of California's electoral votes.

There are a total of 568 electoral votes in the college, so whoever gets 270 votes will win the Presidency.

Answer 4

Electorial votes then voting of the people. Whoever gets the most votes..WINS!!!

John
A+ Certified

Answer 5

It doesn't. That's why Bush is President.