The presidential election has served as the democratic basis for order and representation in American society for centuries. It occurs every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. However, many are unaware of the complete process of becoming a presidential candidate and being sworn into office, as it is widely believed that election day encapsulates it all.

Beginning about 18 months before election day, candidates register with the Federal Election Commission to run for president. Each presidential candidate must meet specific requirements, including being at least 35 years old, having lived in the United States for at least 14 years prior and being a natural-born citizen of the U.S.

Following their registration, all candidates must designate a principal campaign committee whose primary job is registering and filing financial reports on money spent campaigning. Entering into summer, candidates begin campaigning around the country to garner support, with many participating in debates. This debate season thins out the competition as those lacking support drop out and endorse like-minded candidates.

During the spring of the election year, the remaining candidates participate in presidential primaries and caucuses. While primaries are generally held at the state level, where voters choose their preferred candidate by casting secret ballots, caucuses are meetings run by political parties at the county or district level. In states where primaries are held, the vote results are considered as delegates are awarded to the winner.

Around three months before election day, the two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans, hold their nominating convention to select the candidate representing their party in the presidential race. During the nominating convention, each state sends delegates, some of whom were already chosen through the presidential primaries process, who cast their votes to confirm their choice of candidate. Typically, a candidate must win a majority of the delegates to be selected as the presidential nominee. After the convention, the chosen presidential nominee officially announces who will run with them for vice president.

In the weeks leading up to the election, candidates participate in presidential debates in which they share their ideas to tackle some of the nation’s leading issues. On election day, the nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates of major political parties are listed on the general election ballot. Candidates from minor political parties and independent candidates can also be on the ballot but only on a state-by-state basis if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Throughout election day, which was held on Nov. 5 this year, registered citizens can vote for any presidential candidate on the ballot whom they believe is best qualified to serve as president. Citizens can vote in person or through mail, with some regions extending the voting period to accommodate early voting and mail-in ballots.

While every citizen’s vote matters, the president and vice president are not chosen by the popular vote but rather by the Electoral College process. Each state gets as many electors as it has total representatives in the Senate and the House. In almost every state, whichever candidate wins the majority of the votes gets all the electoral votes. However, Maine and Nebraska are unique as they assign their electors using a proportional system.

To win the presidential election, a candidate needs the vote of at least 270 electors. On election night in November, a projected winner is often announced, but the Electoral College vote only takes place in December when the electors meet in their states. At the start of the following calendar year, Congress counts the electoral votes and confirms who the next president of the U.S. will be. After nearly two years since the beginning of the election process, Jan. 20 marks Presidential Inauguration Day, where the elected president takes the presidential oath at the U.S. Capitol and begins their term in office.