When is the new president elected
In the United States, the President is elected through a process called the Electoral College, which is outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution. The process typically occurs every four years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Here's a general outline of the presidential election process:
- Primary elections and caucuses: The process begins with primary elections and caucuses, where voters in each state choose their preferred candidates from among a pool of contenders. These elections are usually held between January and June.
- Nominations: The winners of the primary elections and caucuses become the nominees of their respective political parties. The parties then hold national conventions to officially nominate their candidates.
- General election: The nominees from each party face off in the general election, which is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
- Electoral College voting: On the day of the general election, voters in each state cast ballots for their preferred candidate. The candidate who wins the most votes in a state gets all of that state's electoral votes, except in Maine and Nebraska, which allocate their electoral votes proportionally.
- Electoral College vote count: After the general election, the Electoral College meets in their respective states to cast their votes for president. The candidate who receives the majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) wins the presidency.
- Inauguration: The newly elected president is inaugurated on January 20th of the following year, or the day after if January 20th falls on a Sunday.
So, to answer your question, the new president is typically elected in November of a presidential election year, with the inauguration taking place in January of the following year.