independent.co.uk
Understanding the US Election Process
Analysis of the US presidential election, focusing on the Electoral College, voting process, swing states, and comparison with other democracies.
English
United Kingdom
Us PoliticsElectionsDemocracyVotingElectoral College
Associated Press (Ap)Fox NewsCnnNbcMsnbc
Donald TrumpJoe BidenAl GoreGeorge W. BushKamala Harris
- What are swing states, and what role did they play in the 2020 election?
- Swing states are crucial in determining the election outcome; they are the key states that often determine who crosses the electoral vote threshold and wins. Pennsylvania in 2020 illustrates this, where the result wasn't known for several days after election day.
- What are some key differences in election coverage and aftermath between the US and UK?
- The significant involvement of lawyers in US elections, ready to challenge election conduct, distinguishes the US election from others. In contrast, a British MP noted that they had never met their political opponents, highlighting cultural differences.
- How does the US Electoral College system work, and why can it take time to determine a winner?
- The US presidential election uses the Electoral College system, where each state is allocated a number of votes based on population. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win, and the process can take days or weeks to determine a clear winner due to different state rules and time zones.
- How does the US voting process differ from other countries, specifically regarding ballot length, mail-in voting, and early voting?
- The US voting process differs from other democracies, with longer ballots covering various elections and different state rules on mail-in ballots and early voting. Some states begin counting postal votes on election day, delaying results while others count as mail-in ballots arrive.
- What is the role of TV networks and news agencies in determining election results, and what are some controversies around this process?
- TV networks and wire services like AP call states based on collected voting data, demographic data, and voting history; however, this process has faced controversy with networks calling states before all votes are counted, and even getting it wrong, as in the 2000 election.