As of Monday, November 4th, more than 77 million Americans had already cast their votes in the US election, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab – 42,195,018 returned in person and 35,173,674 by mail.
That total is already almost half the 160 million votes returned in 2020, the highest turnout the US has seen in more than a century.
Here’s what you need to know as election day looms – from how votes are cast and an explanation of how the Electoral College works. Plus: why is it always on a Tuesday?
What are Americans voting for?
Americans will be voting for a vice president, but that vote is tied in with the one for president, meaning a vote for Donald Trump is a vote for his running mate JD Vance and a vote for Kamala Harris is also one for her running mate Tim Walz.
Voters will also elect new members of Congress, the legislative branch of the US government which is made up of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Each state has two Senators and at least one Representative.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, while 33 Senate seats will also be decided in November.
There can also be voting sections relevant to local politicians or individual state laws. If voters choose to leave some sections blank, their vote in other sections still count.
Who can vote?
Age and legal status: All US citizens aged 18 and over can vote in the election. There are exceptions in some states, where some people cannot vote after being convicted of a felony (a serious crime punishable by more than a year in prison) or if they are currently serving time in prison for a lesser offence.
Registration: You must be registered to vote. Registration deadlines vary by state, and some states allow same-day registration on Election Day.
Residency: You must be a resident of the state and, often, the county or precinct where you register. Each state has its own residency rules.
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is a process used in the United States to select the President and Vice President. It is established by the U.S. Constitution and consists of 538 electors. When Americans cast their votes in a presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors chosen by their state’s political parties. These electors then formally vote for the President and Vice President.
Here’s how it works:
- Allocation of Electors: Each state has a number of electors equal to the sum of its U.S. Senators (always 2) and its Representatives in the House, which varies based on population. The District of Columbia also has 3 electors, bringing the total to 538.
- Winning Electors: In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote receives all of that state’s electoral votes (winner-takes-all system), with Maine and Nebraska being exceptions, as they use a proportional system.
- Majority Needed to Win: A candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) to win the presidency.
- Role of Congress: After electors cast their votes, Congress meets in a joint session to count and certify the results.
The Electoral College has been a subject of debate, with some advocating for its continuation and others calling for reform or its abolition, arguing that it can result in a president being elected without winning the popular vote.
What are swing states?
Swing states, also known as battleground or purple states, are states in the United States where both major political parties—Democratic and Republican—have a strong chance of winning in a presidential election. These states are not consistently loyal to one party, making them highly competitive and crucial in deciding the outcome of an election. Because the Electoral College system determines the presidency, the way swing states vote can significantly influence the overall result.
Why swing states are important
- Electoral Influence: Because these states can go either way, they receive a lot of attention from presidential candidates, including campaign visits, advertising, and policy promises tailored to the state’s voters.
- Voter Turnout: The efforts to mobilize voters are often intense, as even small changes in turnout can have a major impact on the state’s electoral votes.
Examples of swing states
Swing states can vary from one election cycle to the next, but some commonly recognized swing states include:
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Arizona
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Ohio
The political balance in these states can shift due to demographic changes, economic conditions, or evolving political attitudes, keeping them unpredictable and highly contested.
What is the popular vote?
The popular vote refers to the total number of individual votes cast by citizens in an election. In the context of a U.S. presidential election, it represents the sum of all votes cast across the country for each candidate.
While the popular vote reflects the direct choice of the American people, it does not determine the outcome of the presidential election. Instead, the Electoral College system decides who becomes president. This means a candidate can win the presidency without winning the popular vote if they secure a majority of electoral votes.
Examples of discrepancies
There have been instances in U.S. history where the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the presidency due to the Electoral College system. Notable examples include the elections of:
- 2000: George W. Bush won the presidency while Al Gore received more popular votes.
- 2016: Donald Trump won the presidency even though Hillary Clinton secured a larger share of the popular vote.
These instances have fueled ongoing debates about the fairness and relevance of the Electoral College system.
When do the polls close – and when is the winner announced?
Poll closing times
Polls begin to close on the East Coast at 6pm local time, or 11pm GMT. The rest trickle in overnight until polls close on the West Coast at about 12am EST and 5am GMT. Georgia will be among the first key states to close at 7pm EST, while Hawaii and Alaska will collect ballots until 12am EST.
Poll closing times in the United States vary by state and time zone. Some states may allow voters who are in line by the closing time to cast their ballots, even if it takes longer for all votes to be processed.
When the winner is announced
- Election Night Projections: Major news organizations often begin projecting winners of certain states on election night, based on partial results and exit polls. However, these are projections and not official results.
- Official Results: The official outcome may take longer, especially if the race is tight or if there are many mail-in or absentee ballots to count. In such cases, it may take several days or even weeks to finalize the vote count.
- Certification: States have deadlines to certify their election results, usually within a few weeks of Election Day.
The overall winner of the presidential election is typically projected on election night or the following day. However, if the race is very close or there are contested results, it may take longer for the winner to be officially determined.
When does the winner take office?
The winner of the U.S. presidential election officially takes office on Inauguration Day, which is January 20 of the year following the election. The newly elected President and Vice President are sworn in during a formal ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Transition Period
Between Election Day (early November) and Inauguration Day (January 20), there is a transition period. During this time, the incoming administration prepares to assume power, working on forming a cabinet, receiving security briefings, and planning policies.
If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the public swearing-in ceremony may be held the following day, although the President will still take the official oath of office privately on the 20th.
Why is election day always a Tuesday?
Election Day in the United States is always on a Tuesday for historical and practical reasons. The date was established by federal law in 1845, choosing the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Reasons for a Tuesday in November:
- Agricultural Considerations: In the 19th century, the U.S. was largely an agrarian society, and November was a convenient time for farmers. The harvest was usually finished, and the weather was still mild enough for travel.
- Religious Practices: Sunday was reserved as a day of worship for many Americans, so having Election Day on a Tuesday ensured it didn’t interfere with church activities or require travel on a Sunday.
- Market Days: Many towns had market days on Wednesdays, and choosing Tuesday ensured that voting would not disrupt market activities.
By setting the date as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the law also avoided November 1, which is All Saints’ Day, a day of religious observance for some Christian denominations.
