— Kannan K

(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Kannan K simplifies the US presidential election process.)

As the US presidential elections dominate the headlines world over, observers in India are keenly watching how the incoming US administration’s policies would align with India’s aspirations on the world stage, creating potential pathways for deeper collaboration between the two democracies.

In that context, let’s take a deep dive into the process of the US presidential elections and understand it in comparison to India. 

Primaries and caucuses

The US presidential election is a complex and multi-layered process spanning over a year, beginning with potential candidates declaring their intention to run for their party’s presidential nomination and culminating in the inauguration of the newly elected president. 

The US operates under a primarily two-party system, with the Democratic and Republican parties dominating the political landscape. Other parties such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party face structural challenges and typically garner less than 2 per cent of the vote. 

In presidential election cycles, candidates vying for a party’s presidential nomination first compete in state-by-state primaries and caucuses. Thus, the primary election process in the US involves two main types of contests: primaries and caucuses. Each state has its own way of operating its primaries and caucuses.

Some states conduct only primary elections, while others hold caucuses, and a few use a combination of both. 

Primaries or state-level elections are held six to nine months before a presidential election. During primaries, registered party members (in closed primaries) or sometimes the public (in open primaries) select their preferred candidates, who will then represent the party in the general election. In contrast, caucuses are less formal gatherings where party members engage in discussions and voting to select their preferred candidates. 

Both the Democratic and Republican parties utilise these methods in different states, with each party having its unique rules for delegate allocation. A delegate is an individual selected to represent their state or community at their party’s national nominating convention, where they participate in choosing the party’s presidential candidate for the general election in November. 

A distinctive feature of the US primary process is the system of televised primary debates, in which candidates from the same party go head-to-head on key issues, attempting to highlight their strengths while challenging their rivals’ positions and exposing their weaknesses. This practice, involving direct public confrontation among party leaders organised by the party, is a practice unseen in the Indian political landscape.

The nomination process culminates at the party’s national convention, where delegates formally select the presidential candidate who has won a majority through the primary and caucus contests. The conventions shift the campaign focus from party-specific competition to the general election campaign. The conventions also unify the party around one candidate, who announces a vice-presidential running mate during the event.

The selection of the vice-presidential candidate is at the discretion of the presidential nominee and carries significant strategic and symbolic weight. The Vice President of the US is the first in line of succession in the event of the President’s death, resignation, or incapacity. As the second highest executive office in the federal government, the VP also serves as the President of the Senate.

This Senate role is comparable to that of the Vice President of India, who serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 

The selection of a running mate is frequently employed as a tool for balancing the presidential ticket, aiming to broaden appeal across diverse voter demographics and reinforce the candidate’s political strategy. For example, Joe Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate in the 2020 election was seen as a move to strengthen the campaign’s appeal to diverse voter demographics, especially women, minorities, and younger voters.

After the National conventions, both Presidential campaigns take off in full strength to sway voters across the country. Campaign strategies include extensive fundraising, targeted advertisement,  grassroots organisations, and sophisticated digital outreach to appeal to diverse demographics. A primary objective is to mobilise supporters and secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win the Electoral College and, ultimately, the presidency.

The Electoral College is a distinctive feature of the US presidential election, established by the  US Constitution. It comprises 538 electors. The number of electors varies from state to state. Each state has the same number of electors as the size of its Congressional delegation — one for each member of the House of Representatives plus two for the two Senators.

When voters cast their ballots in a presidential election (as happened on 5 November 2024), they select electors pledged to vote for a specific candidate. Most states employ a “winner-takes-all” system, where the candidate who wins the majority of votes in a state secures its entire allocation in the Electoral College. For example, in Florida, which has 29 electoral votes, if candidate A receives 14 electoral votes and candidate B secures 15, the latter would win all 29 electoral votes. 

The winner-takes-all system significantly amplifies the importance of swing states, where  narrow margins often decide allocation of all electoral votes. In these states, candidates focus  their campaigns on securing victory, as small gains made in states that are firmly aligned with  one party — whether “blue” Democratic strongholds like California, New York, and Illinois, or  “red” Republican bastions like Texas and Tennessee — have no impact on the overall allocation  of electoral votes. 

As a result, presidential candidates typically direct most of their attention and resources to swing states, where both parties have a competitive chance of winning. Definitions of “red,” “blue,” and “swing” states can vary depending on the specific electoral data or time period used for analysis. In the 2024 elections, the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada – held the key to the White House. 

As mentioned earlier, to win the presidency, a candidate must obtain a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270  out of 538), which requires winning in a combination of states, rather than the popular vote at the national level. This system has been criticised, particularly for its potential to contradict the popular vote, as demonstrated in the 2016 election when Donald Trump won the presidency despite receiving 2.1 per cent fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in the popular vote, as he secured 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227. 

Debates are a crucial part of the US election process, providing candidates a platform to present their views and engage with opponents. Presidential debates have a long history, dating back to the first televised debate in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Typically,  three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate are held in the lead-up to the election.

These debates can sway undecided voters and significantly impact campaign momentum. Strong debate performances have been major factors influencing voter choices. Most recently, former President Barack Obama’s performances in the 2008 and 2012 presidential debates are believed to have given him a significant edge over his opponents.

“The Tuesday next after the first Monday in November” has been established as the date for Presidential elections every four years. While US voting methods vary widely, including in-person voting, absentee ballots, and mail-in voting, in this year’s election, 95 per cent registered voters were from jurisdictions where paper ballots, handmarked or otherwise, were used to cast the majority of voters.

Compared to the Indian system, where the general election is handled by the Election  Commission of India or ECI, the federal system in the US mandates that elections for the presidency are administered by state and local election authorities rather than a single centralised body. The administration of the US presidential election is thus of relatively decentralised nature, with key processes managed at the state level. 

Each state administers its own elections, including the selection of electors for the Electoral College, resulting in a patchwork of voting systems. State election bodies handle voter registration, ballots, polling places, and vote counting. Each state completes the election process at its own pace. After the results are tabulated, they are certified by the state’s election board. This certification is crucial for finalising the election outcome and allowing electors to cast their votes in the Electoral  College. 

While the winner of the Presidential elections will be known in November, the official declaration of the winner will take place only in January when the US Congress meets, counts the electoral votes and declares the winner of the election the ‘President-elect’.

The presidential inauguration marks the formal transition of power to the newly elected president. Held on 20 January following the election, the ceremony takes place on the steps of the US Capitol. The president-elect takes the oath of office, pledging to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the duties of the presidency. Inauguration Day is a significant event,  often celebrated with parades, festivities, and public events. 

Established over two centuries ago, this intricate process remains a cornerstone of American democracy. However, its relevance and effectiveness in accurately reflecting the will of the contemporary American masses has been the subject of ongoing debate and criticism, particularly for its lack of emphasis on the popular vote. 

Regardless of the political challenges and controversies that often arise in its wake, the election process reflects the strength of the American democratic system, culminating in the ascend of a new leader who will shape the nation’s future and the world at large. The new President will face the immediate challenges of handling the bloodshed in Ukraine and Palestine, as well as the broader geopolitical issues in the world, all the while trying to fulfill the aspirations of the American public. The world, specifically India, awaits the next ‘leader of the free world’.

How does the multi-layered process of the US presidential election unfold, from candidate declarations to inauguration?

Why is there an international focus, especially from countries like India, on the US presidential election and its outcome?

What is the trade volume between the US and India, and how does it make the US election crucial for India?

The new US President will play a critical role in shaping global geopolitical dynamics, with particular attention on addressing ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. Evaluate. 

What does the term “leader of the free world” imply about the role of the US President in the global context?

(Kannan K is a Doctoral candidate in Political Science at the Centre for Economic and Social  Studies, Hyderabad.)

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