How the US Presidential Voting Process Works in 2024

The election between the two major candidates in the US presidential election is happening today as Americans are voting between Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party and Donald Trump for the Republican Party. 

This election is crucial for shaping the country’s future and is watched by millions around the world. In addition to choosing the president, Americans are also electing members of Congress, who play a critical role in making and shaping US laws. 

The elected president will serve a four-year term, beginning in January 2025. Here’s an overview of how this process works, including the key players, the unique voting system, and what happens if there’s a tie.

The Candidates in 2024

For the Republican Party, Donald Trump, a former president, has emerged as the candidate. He has significant support within his party and selected Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. 

On the Democratic side, Kamala Harris, the current Vice President, is the candidate after President Joe Biden decided not to run for re-election. Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

There are also a few independent candidates, but they tend not to have the same level of support as the major party candidates. One notable independent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., endorsed Trump after ending his campaign in August.

How the Election Works: The Electoral College

The United States uses a unique voting system known as the Electoral College rather than a direct national vote. This means the candidate with the most votes across the country does not automatically win. Here’s how it works:

1. Electoral Votes by State: Each state is assigned a specific number of electoral votes, which are based on its population. This total comes from each state’s number of Senators (always 2) and the number of Representatives in the House, which varies by population.
2. Total Electoral Votes: There are 538 electoral votes in total. To win, a candidate must get a majority of these votes, meaning 270 electoral votes.
3. State-by-State Contests: Rather than a single, national vote, the election is a collection of 50 individual state contests. Each state’s voters decide who will receive their electoral votes.
4. Winner-Takes-All System: In most states, the candidate who receives the most votes wins all of that state’s electoral votes. However, there are two exceptions:
   • Maine and Nebraska use a “split” system, awarding some of their electoral votes based on results in individual congressional districts.

The importance of having the big states in your corner

Not all states are equally competitive. Many states reliably vote for one party or the other. But a few “swing states” or “battleground states” can be won by either party. These states are critical in determining the outcome of the election, and both candidates often focus their campaign efforts on these areas.

For 2024, key battleground states include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Winning these states is crucial for both Trump and Harris as they vie for the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

What happens if there’s a tie?

In rare cases, the Electoral College results in a tie, with each candidate receiving 269 votes. If this happens, the decision goes to the House of Representatives in what’s called a contingent election. Here’s how it would work:

1. House Votes for President: Each state delegation in the House gets one vote. The candidate with the most state votes becomes president.
2. Senate Votes for Vice President: The Senate chooses the vice president, with each senator casting a vote. This process could lead to a situation where the president and vice president are from opposing parties.

The last time this happened was in 1800 when Thomas Jefferson was ultimately chosen as president.

What you should know

Also, members of the Electoral College are known as electors. Normally, they cast their votes according to the popular vote in their state.

However, sometimes, electors vote differently from how their state voted; they’re known as faithless electors. While rare, faithless electors have appeared in past elections, though they rarely affect the final result.