U.S. election

U.S. election

General elections held every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. These are indirect elections in that ordinary voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.

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U.S. election

Blanket primary

Government; U.S. election

A primary election (to select a candidate for a general election) in which voters may ignore party lines. For example, a voter may choose to vote for a Republican senator and a Democratic governor. ...

Stump speech

Government; U.S. election

On the campaign trail, candidates often deliver a generic speech, known as their "stump speech", outlining their core campaign messages.

Commander in chief

Government; U.S. election

The constitutional role granted to the president as head of the United States' armed forces. Under Article III of the Constitution, the president is given authority to lead "the army and the navy of ...

Push polling

Government; U.S. election

The controversial practise where voters are contacted over the telephone by campaign workers, who talk up their own candidate and criticise opponents. Voters often say they feel deceived by the ...

Balancing the ticket

Government; U.S. election

When a candidate has won his or her party's presidential nomination, he or she is then obliged to pick a "running-mate" who would become vice-president if the candidate won the election. The two are ...

Bellwether state

Government; U.S. election

A state which, historically, tends to vote for the winning candidate, perhaps because it is - demographically - a microcosm of the country as a whole. The classic example of a bellwether state is ...

Open primary

Government; U.S. election

A primary election (to select a candidate for the general election) in which people are allowed to vote regardless of party affiliation or registration. However, in an open primary, voters are ...