The United States is preparing to elect the next president in November 2024. While Joe Biden seeks re-election with the Democratic party, Donald Trump is almost guaranteed a place to run for the Republican party.
Unlike Brazil, the presidential election in the USA takes place indirectly, that is, instead of the population voting directly for the candidate they want to elect for the Presidency, they end up electing the party's “delegates” in a state.
Understand below what delegates are and how indirect voting works in the United States.
What is indirect voting in the US?
In indirect voting, people elect “delegates” (an electoral figure) and they are the ones who choose the people who will occupy political positions.
In the USA, this system is used both in primary elections (the dispute between pre-candidates) and in general elections (when only one candidate from each party participates).
What are delegates?
Delegates are an electoral figure, representatives who vote following the will of the voters of each state. Generally, they are politically engaged individuals and active members of parties.
As established in the United States Constitution, North Americans vote for Presidential candidates and, according to the number of votes obtained in each state, they receive the votes of delegates corresponding to the region.
These representatives then meet in their respective states and vote for president and vice president. Delegates make up the Electoral College.
Can a party delegate vote for the opposing candidate?
Yes. Although this is rare, delegates from one party can vote for the opposing candidate.
This has happened before, but the action would certainly generate a lot of discontent within the party.
How many delegates does a candidate need to win?
A US presidential candidate must win at least 270 delegates.
This number represents the majority of the 538 voters that make up the Electoral College, the system that the US Constitution describes for electing the president.
Bound vs. unbound delegates
The majority of delegates are required to be “bound” (the Republican term) or “pledged” (the Democratic term) to a particular candidate addressing the convention.
For example, the 26 “bound” delegates that former President Donald Trump secured in the Nevada caucus will necessarily vote for him when the Republican party convention takes place.
But a very small portion of delegates in certain states and territories on the Republican side are “unbound.” These few delegates can support whoever they want when they get to the convention.
What is the Electoral College in the USA?
It is the group of people who “confirm” the population’s vote.
In most states, the presidential candidate who receives the majority of the popular vote takes all the delegates, regardless of the percentage difference – a process known as “winner takes all”.
The exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which share some of the electoral votes.
How is the Electoral College composed?
The United States Electoral College is made up of 538 delegates, one for each member of the House of Representatives (435) and the Senate (100), and 3 more in the District of Columbia.
The number of delegates up for grabs in each state is determined according to population information from the Census and representation in the country's Congress.
What happens if no one gets 270 delegates?
If by chance no candidate reaches this number or if the two candidates reach exactly 269 votes each, the Chamber of Deputies decides who will be the new president, among the three candidates who obtained the most votes, in a new and different vote.
In this case, it is worth highlighting that the deputies who define the president are not those who are already in office, but rather those who are elected in November.
Only twice in the history of the United States has the president been chosen by the House: in 1800 and 1824.
Can a candidate win the popular vote and lose the Electoral College?
Yes. This happens because different amounts are assigned to each state, meaning that some have more weight than others. For example, Wyoming only has 3 delegates, while California has 55.
This situation has happened five times in the country, the most recent being in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected in the Electoral College, despite Democrat Hillary Clinton having received more votes from the population.
The same happened in 2000, with Republican George W. Bush, who beat Democrat Al Gore, and also in 1824, 1876 and 1888.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
