Today, November 5, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in American history as citizens head to the polls to choose their next president.
The contest pits Democrat Kamala Harris against Republican Donald Trump, with the winner serving a four-year term starting in January 2025.
Kamala Harris, the current Vice President, emerged as the Democratic candidate after President Joe Biden declined to run. She is joined by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Donald Trump, the former President, secured the Republican nomination with Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Other contenders include independent candidates, although Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew in August to endorse Trump.
The United States employs an Electoral College system, where each state is allocated electoral votes based on its congressional representation. This system often leads to a winner who may not have received the most national votes. With 538 electoral votes at stake, a candidate needs 270 to win. Some states, like Alaska and Wyoming, have just three electoral votes, while California holds 54.
Certain states, known as “swing” or “battleground” states, can sway the election’s outcome. These states include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Candidates focus intensely on winning over undecided voters in these states, which can determine the election’s outcome.
In rare instances, Electoral College members may cast votes for a candidate other than the state’s winner. If neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the decision goes to the House of Representatives. This “contingent election” could result in a president and vice president from opposing parties.
