The world power remains with America. Although various ideologies suggest that the global situation has changed, America’s strength has not diminished. Therefore, it is clear that America will continue to be the dominant force shaping the course of the world.
The U.S. presidential election holds significant importance not just for America but also for the entire world. This is due to the influence of American power on global affairs. Consequently, the individual who becomes the President of the United States plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of international relations and events.
The President of the country is elected through a long-established democratic process. Presidential elections occur every four years, traditionally on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, a practice since 1845.
A presidential election is set to take place this year on November 5, with voting occurring across all 50 states. State-by-state voting will also be organised. The hours for voting differ depending on the state, and approximately 230 million people are eligible to vote this year.
The tradition of selecting candidates
The two dominant political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party, led by current President Joe Biden, and the Republican Party, which is based on right-wing conservatism.
The Democratic Party is a left-wing and liberal political party. Both major parties typically choose their most popular candidates through primary elections held in each state leading up to the presidential election. This is a traditional approach in the electoral process. After securing approval at the National Convention, each party officially presents its presidential candidate.
Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party and former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party are candidates for the presidency. However, they are not the only ones in the race. Jill Stein from the Green Party, Chase Oliver from the Libertarian Party, and Cornel West, an anti-war candidate, also run for office. These candidates do not enter the race expecting to win; instead, their goal is to promote their political ideologies.
The opportunities given to the people to vote
The voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election was 66%, marking the highest participation rate in an American presidential election in over a century. Americans could vote either in person at polling stations or by mail, and many states implemented voting systems before Election Day. This high turnout can be attributed partly to more than 52 million people having already cast their votes before Election Day.
Trump’s unwavering power
After losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump became infamous when his supporters stormed the Capitol building. This event drew severe criticism even from within his own party. Despite this controversy, Trump has once again emerged as the presidential candidate for the Republican Party.
Despite facing criminal charges, Donald Trump has become a figure known for standing up to challenges. It was evident that he would make a comeback after the 2020 presidential election concluded. On November 22, 2022, he officially announced his presidential campaign, seeking to run for the third time as the Republican candidate.
The current President, Joe Biden, ran for a second term as the Democratic candidate. However, he had to exit the race midway due to criticisms and suggestions from within his party. Given his age, there were significant concerns about his ability to continue serving as President.
The opportunity lost to Biden
Prominent Democratic leaders, including Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, suggested that if Joe Biden decided to run, he would likely face defeat. Consequently, Biden chose to resign. This allowed Kamala Harris to secure the Democratic nomination and quickly launched her campaign. She also worked on selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate. On the Republican side, Donald Trump appointed Ohio State Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.
The method of choosing the President
The American presidential election has a unique process. Voters do not directly cast their votes for the President. Instead, they first elect representatives for the electoral college in their states. Following this, the representatives from the electoral college select the President.
On January 6, 2025, a session has been scheduled to elect the current President. Announcing this decision at the Capitol Hill building has become an American tradition. The new President will be confirmed based on the number of seats each party secures in the election on November 5.
Electoral college
The total number of representatives in the Electoral College is 538, which includes 535 representatives from the 50 states and three appointed representatives for Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. The exact number determines the number of representatives for each state as its Senate representation.
However, there are allegations that these seats are not distributed fairly in proportion to the respective states’ population, particularly regarding the Senate. For example, Wyoming benefits more because its population allows for one Senate seat to represent fewer citizens than larger states. While Texas has 442,000 citizens represented by one seat, it still receives only one Senate seat, similar to Wyoming despite its larger population.
Although the number of legislative seats elected at the state level varies, each state has two Senate seats for representation. It is essential to clarify that the Electoral College is not composed of representatives from the Legislative Council or members of the Senate. Instead, the Electoral College is formed to elect the President, with its members corresponding to the total number of legislative seats in each state. Essentially, these electors represent their states in the presidential appointment process.
Understanding that the electoral college system is not based on proportional representation is essential. Despite criticisms that this system may distort public opinion, the United States has not felt the need to change it and continues to uphold this tradition. Interestingly, two states, Nebraska and Maine, utilise a different model. In these states, the party that receives the most votes is awarded two electoral college seats.
You can lose even if you have more votes
It’s important to note that a presidential candidate can lose the election even if they receive more popular votes nationwide. There have been five such instances in American history. The most recent example occurred in 2016 when Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton in the nationwide popular vote by about three million votes. However, Trump secured a victory in the Electoral College, ultimately determining the election’s outcome.
If a candidate fails to secure 270 electoral votes, the responsibility of choosing the President falls to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In this case, each state will have one vote, and a total of 26 votes is required in Congress to elect the President. This has occurred only once in American history, specifically in the election of 1824.
Although Andrew Jackson received more popular votes in the presidential election, he did not secure a majority of 270 votes in the Electoral College. As a result, Congress elected John Quincy Adams as President. In this situation, it is noteworthy that the Vice President is chosen through a vote by the Senate.
Trump or Harris?
Donald Trump had several advantages in the battle against Joe Biden, but with Kamala Harris’s arrival, the Democratic voter base appears to have strengthened. According to recent opinion polls, Kamala Harris is currently leading. However, the margin is not substantial.
Recent opinion polls indicate a strong likelihood that Donald Trump could become the 47th President of the United States. These polls also reveal that while Kamala Harris is focusing on attracting middle-class and minority voters, Trump’s popularity has risen due to his bold promotion of liberal capitalist economic ideas and anti-immigration policies.
07 crucial states
In the American presidential election, special attention is given to seven swing or battleground states. These states include Michigan, California, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Candidates spend billions of dollars on their campaigns in these key states because winning them is crucial for deciding who will become President. Additionally, predicting voting behaviour in these states can be pretty challenging.
No matter who wins, record after records
This year’s U.S. presidential election is particularly significant—the winner, whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, will set a political record. If Donald Trump wins, he will become the oldest President in American history at 78. Additionally, if he wins, he will be the second candidate to win a presidential election after previously losing.
If Kamala Harris wins the presidential election, she will become the first female President in American history. As the country’s first leader of Indian origin, she would also be the first woman to hold the world’s most powerful position since Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who ruled during the 19th century over an empire on which the sun never set.
The world closely observes the U.S. presidential election because it represents a chance to influence global direction. This election is not just about selecting a leader for one country; it is a unique opportunity that impacts the survival and security of the entire world.
