General Elections

General elections are when Americans vote for president and vice president in November. It’s the culmination of a longer political process that includes earlier contests and nationwide campaign efforts. But how do general elections actually work, and what determines who wins?

From Primaries to the General Election

The journey to the general election starts with primaries and caucuses, where party members select their nominees. These early contests are distinct from the general election itself. Once the national conventions nominate their candidates, the general election campaign kicks into high gear, with candidates competing for votes across the entire nation.

How Votes Become President

When general election day arrives in November, voters cast ballots for their chosen presidential and vice presidential candidates. However, these votes don’t directly determine the winner. Instead, they’re counted at the state level to determine each state’s electoral votes. A candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win—learn how the Electoral College system works. This means certain states decide presidential elections while others don’t, and there’s ongoing debate about the Electoral College versus the popular vote.

What Determines Election Outcomes?

Several factors influence which candidate wins. Economic conditions significantly affect elections, and presidential debates can change elections. Voters also exhibit seemingly contradictory behavior—they may reelect members of Congress they don’t approve of while voting for different presidential candidates. Presidential results extend beyond the White House: presidential elections shape congressional races through coattail effects.