Embassy of the United States

U.S. Elections 2008: Newsletter #1

1. Voting & The Election Process

'08 U.S. General Election  - November 4, 2008 A look at the processes that define the U.S. electoral system.

What is the Electoral College?

Ohio's delegation to the Electoral College certify their votes during the voting ceremony in the Columbus statehouse in December 2004. © AP Images/Will Shilling According to the Constitution, presidents are elected by the Electoral College, composed of electors from each state who represent the will of their state’s voters. Each state’s group of electors is equal in number to its Congressional representation. Typically all of a state’s electors cast their votes for the candidate who won a plurality of votes in their state. A candidate must receive at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes to win.

- More information: The Electoral College

What are primaries and caucuses?

Most U.S. states have held their preliminaries as they prepare for the upcoming midterm elections in November. (© AP Images) A primary is a state-level election where voters affiliated with political parties choose candidates to represent their parties in the general election. A caucus is a local-level meeting of registered party members to determine support for a candidate. The results of these meetings are combined on a statewide basis to determine a state’s party nominee.

- More information: Early Primaries and Caucuses Shape Presidential Hopefuls' Odds

Why are there two parties?

The Constitution makes no provision for political parties. They developed on their own as the country grew, and by the 1830s were an established part of the political environment. Today, the Republicans and Democrats are the two main political parties. They have dominated American politics since the 1860s, and every president since 1852 has been one or the other.

- More information: Political Parties in the United States

What's new in voting technology?

As required by the Help America Vote Act, new technology helps voters with disabilities to cast their ballots. © AP Images/Home News Tribune /Keith Muccilli Following problems with the 2000 elections, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), providing funds for states to modernize voting systems and calling for minimum standards in elections administration. This is important since all U.S. elections, even presidential elections, are administered locally. Many states have already implemented these new standards, and more changes are expected for 2008.

- More information: New Tools Encourage Americans To Exercise Right to Vote

2. Meet the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Democratic Front-Runners (based on CNN’s latest polls conducted on October 2007) Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton is a senator representing New York. She also was U.S. first lady from 1993 to 2001 while her husband Bill Clinton served as president. Hillary Clinton, in 1993, headed a task force that developed proposed legislation to provide universal health care to all Americans.   Barack Obama Barack Obama is a first-term senator from Illinois. Previously, he served in the Illinois state Legislature and worked as a civil rights attorney. Obama has proposed legislation that would create a new employment eligibility system for companies to verify if their employees are legal residents.   John Edwards John Edwards is a former senator from North Carolina and was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2004. The first in his family to attend college, Edwards was a practicing attorney until he was elected to the Senate.   Republican Front-Runners (based on CNN’s latest polls conducted on October 2007) Rudy Giuliani Rudy Giuliani is the former mayor of New York City, where he served during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He previously was U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and prosecuted several high-profile cases.   Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and a former Baptist preacher. Huckabee, who has diabetes, received national attention for losing 110 pounds and encouraging others to improve their diet and exercise.   Mitt Romney Mitt Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts. He also oversaw the committee that organized the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Romney supports President Bush's surge strategy for Iraq and has called on Americans to demonstrate a "surge of support" for its troops.

3. Publication

[e-Journal] The Long Campaign: U.S. Elections 2008 This edition of eJournal USA presents an introduction to the upcoming 2008 U.S. elections. In these elections, U.S. voters will have the opportunity to vote for president and vice president, congressional representatives, state and local officials, and ballot initiatives. The journal describes aspects of this election which make it different from most recent elections and includes a pro-con debate of the Electoral College.   About This Issue Download Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Types of Elections -What types of elections are held in the United States? -What are midterm elections? -What is a convention? -What is a caucus? Requirements for Voting, Running for Office -Who can vote? -What are the requirements for running for elected office in the United States? Scheduling elections -When are general elections held? -When are primary elections held? Electoral college -What is the Electoral College? -How does the Electoral College elect the president? -For which races is the Electoral College used? Other questions -Why is voter turnout sometimes low in the United States? -What are the symbols of the U.S. political parties? -Do organizations tell people how to vote? -What does it mean when a union or newspaper "endorses" a candidate?

5. Useful Links

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration: U.S. Electoral College : This agency provides important facts and teaching resources about the Electoral College. Democratic National Committee : The Primary Web site for the Democratic Party. Republican National Committee : The Primary Web site for the Republican Party.