lexpress.fr
Understanding the US Presidential Election
An explanation of the US Presidential Election, including the electoral college system, early voting, and the timeline for results.
French
France
Us PoliticsElectionsFranceDemocracyVotingElectoral College
Associated Press
Kamala HarrisDonald TrumpJoe BidenHillary Clinton
- When will the results be known?
- The results will vary by state, but the final results may not be known on November 5th, possibly taking several days or even weeks to finalize due to the counting of absentee ballots. Partial results should be available soon after polls close on the East Coast.
- Why do millions of Americans vote early?
- Millions of Americans vote early, either in person or by mail, to increase participation and reduce Election Day crowds. Early voting begins weeks before the official election day. This system has faced accusations of fraud, although these have not been proven.
- How does the US presidential election system work?
- The US presidential election is an indirect election where citizens vote for electors who then elect the president. Each state has a number of electors based on its congressional representation, and the candidate winning a state's popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes, except for Maine and Nebraska.
- Which states will likely report results first and last?
- The first states to report results are typically on the East Coast, with Indiana and Kentucky often among the earliest. The final results may not be known on election night itself, depending on how close the race is and the time needed to count absentee and mail-in ballots.
- What are some of the key features of the US electoral system?
- The US electoral system is unique, with electors chosen by the popular vote in each state. The winner-takes-all system means a candidate can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote. The timing of results is spread out due to the various time zones and the process of counting ballots.