Delegate Apportionment

• The Democratic and Republican Parties proportion a number of delegates to each state, using various calculations. The Democratic Party assigns delegates based on state population. The Republican Party apportions three delegates per congressional district, along with six at-large delegates to each state.
  
  

Primary Elections and Caucuses

• Presidential candidates compete in state primary elections and caucuses, to obtain delegates to the party's national convention. States determine when the primary elections or caucuses will be held, though primary elections and caucuses typically begin in February of an election year.
  
  

Nominating Conventions

• In the late summer of an election year, the Democratic and Republican Parties hold nominating conventions, where delegates from each state cast their vote for president and vice president. The nominating conventions serve as a formality, to affirm the nominee of state parties.
  
  

General Election

• Following the conventions, presidential nominees compete for votes in the general election. In the short period of time between the nominating convention and the general election, presidential nominees embark upon significant campaign efforts to secure votes in the general election.
  
  

Electoral College

• The electoral college consists of an elector for each U.S. senator and representative. In the general election, voters cast their ballots for electors who actually elect the president.