Elections 101
On Tuesday 6 November 2012, millions of Americans will vote for the next president and vice president of the United States. Simple, eh? Well actually, it's a long and complicated process so we thought we'd help explain it to you with Elections 101. Click on the links below to find out more.
The Parties
Don't know your donkeys from your elephants? We explain the major political parties in the US elections.
Primaries and Caucuses
How does a party choose their presidential candidate? With primaries and caucuses! But what are they?
Conventions
It's time for the political parties to offically nominate their presidential candidates. What else happens at the conventions?
Campaign Finances
US elections are expensive and don’t seem to be getting cheaper. So where does all the campaign money come from?
Electoral College
Being the most popular isn't enough! A candidate must win 270 electoral votes to become President. So how does the Electoral College system work?
Inauguration
The President-elect will take the oath of office in January 2013 and officially commence work as the leader of the US.
Election Glossary
Is all this political jargon confusing you? Perhaps our Election Glossary will help to clear things up.
Newsroom
Best of the Web
Big Win for Gay Rights
“Tuesday night saw the largest expansion of gay rights in American electoral history, as Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first states to approve of marriage equality by popular vote and Wisconsinelected Representative Tammy Baldwin as the nation's first openly gay senator.”
Notes of Bipartasnship”
“The House speaker, John A. Boehner of Ohio, striking a conciliatory tone a day after the Republican Party’s electoral drubbing, said on Wednesday that he was ready to accept a budget deal that raises federal revenue as long as it is linked to an overhaul of entitlements and a reform of the tax code that closes loopholes, curtails or eliminates deductions and lowers income tax rates.”
“Democrats Retain Senate, Republicans Hold House”
“After a hard-fought election, they now hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate.But Republicans will keep hold of the 435-seat House of Representatives with a solid majority.”
