The presidential election is the process by which citizens of the United States select their president and vice president. Unlike most elections where citizens cast ballots directly for candidates, in the United States, voters elect delegates who vote for president and vice president. The candidate with the most electoral votes is elected president. Since the adoption of the Twenty-third Amendment, an absolute majority — 270 electoral votes — is required to win. Throughout the campaign, candidates compete for votes in a series of events called Primaries and Caucuses. Those that have the most votes are chosen to represent their party at the National Convention where they compete for the title of the party’s nominee for President.
During the campaign, candidates focus their efforts on so-called “swing states” where support is nearly evenly divided between the two major parties. These states receive a significant amount of news coverage, polling and attention from the candidates.
After the general election in early November, each state’s Electoral College votes for their President and Vice President. There are 538 electoral votes; the total number of votes in a state is determined by its population (except Maine and Nebraska, which have 2 electoral votes per their two U.S. Senators and 1 electoral vote per their members of the House of Representatives). On the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, each State’s Electors meet to formally cast their votes. A Certificate of Vote is prepared at that meeting and sent to NARA as part of the official records of the Presidential election.