1. Presidential Election
The process of selecting the Commander-in-Chief

2. The President Every four years a president is elected
Must be 35 years old
Born in the U.S.
Lived in the U.S. for 14 years
John F. Kennedy was the youngest president at 43
Ronald Reagan was the oldest president at 77

3. Stage 1: The Primaries Political parties must nominate a candidate
About 10 months before the presidential election, parties have voters select a candidate
Example: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Bill Richardson all ran for the Democratic Party nomination in 2008
When one nominee arises as the favorite, the political party holds their National Convention and officially nominates that candidate
Prior to the National Convention, the president selects a Vice President to run with him/her

5. Stage 2: Presidential Campaigning
Candidates campaign until Election Day
TV, radio, internet ads
President and Vice President candidates travel the country to speak with millions of Americans

6. Stage 3: The Debates Three presidential debates
One vice presidential debate
Moderated by an unbiased journalist such as Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, or Tom Brokaw
Candidates are asked questions developed by American citizens

7. First Presidential Debate

8. Vice Presidential Debate

9. Second Presidential Debate

10. Third Presidential Debate

11. Stage 4: The Election
All American citizens who are 18 or older and registered to vote can vote on election day
Only one day of voting, one vote per person
Each state totals their votes
If John McCain receives the majority of votes in Arizona, then he wins the state of Arizona
Example: McCain: 55% Obama 40% Other 5%
McCain receives 100% of Arizona’s electoral vote

12. Stage 5: The Electoral Vote
Electoral votes are determined by the state’s population
Need 270 electoral votes to win
If neither candidate has a majority, then the House of Representatives decides

15. 2000 Presidential Election Results
Popular Vote Al Gore: 50,996,116 George Bush: 50,456,169
Electoral Vote Al Gore: 266 George Bush: 271
Winner: George Bush
Popular vote does NOT elect president

16. Stage 6: Tallying the Results
It takes weeks to tally all of the results, but newspapers usually project the winner within a day by adding together the electoral votes from each state candidates are expected to win

17. Stage 7: Inauguration of the President
January 20: The president and vice president-elect are inaugurated into office and begin serving the country