Prereading Quiz: The Road to the White House

A caucus is a political party meeting where voters gather in a school, church, or other public place to discuss their party’s candidates and then vote. Nine states will hold caucuses this presidential election year. In a primary, voters cast secret ballots by mail or at the polls.

Super Tuesday will be March 5. Sixteen states will hold primaries and caucuses on that day. Super Tuesday is often a turning point in the presidential election process because many candidates often drop out after the votes are counted.

Voters choose electors—special delegates who have pledged to vote for a particular candidate. On Tuesday, December 17, these electors, who make up the Electoral College, will gather in each state to cast the official votes for president and vice president. A candidate needs votes from at least 270 of the 538 electors to win.

This has happened twice: in 1800 and 1824. If no candidate wins at least 270 votes from the Electoral College, the House of Representatives votes to choose the president and the Senate votes to choose the vice president.

The next four-year presidential term will begin on January 20, 2025. That day is known as Inauguration Day.