Candidates seeking their parties presidential nominations are contesting primaries and caucuses elections ahead of the nomination conventions.

The race to replace US President Barack Obama during the November 8, 2016 presidential election is gradually getting to the crescendo as the various candidates seeking the nomination of their parties are already hustling and bustling on the field. The hallmark in the primaries and caucus elections held on March 1, 2016 in what is called Super Tuesday primary polls. Eleven States indeed, cast votes for candidates from either the Republican or Democratic parties or both.

For the current ruling Democratic party, the candidates seeking the party’s nomination include former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. As for the Republican party, the five candidates seeking its nomination include Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Donald Trump and John Kasiah.

Primaries and Caucus Elections

The presidential electoral system in the United States of America is complex and cumbersome.  Both the Democratic and Republican candidates seeking the nomination of their parties are moving from State to State now and contesting primaries. Through the primaries and caucus elections, the contesting candidates campaign and win delegates who would vote for them in their respective parties nominating conventions.

The primary elections are run by State and local governments, while the caucuses are organized directly by the political parties. Some States hold only primary elections, some hold only caucuses and others use a combination of both.  According to the 2016 presidential election calendar, primaries and caucuses have to run from February 1, 2016 to June 14, 2016.  Presidential caucuses and primaries are indirect elections.

Depending on each State’s law and State’s political party rules, when voters cast ballots for a candidate in a presidential caucus  or primary, they may be voting to award delegates bound to vote for a  candidate at the presidential nominating conventions. They may also simply be expressing an opinion that the State party is not bound to follow in selecting delegates to their respective national conventions.

Before the effective take off of the primaries and caucuses, candidates had earlier announced their intentions to run and file their statements of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. Between August 2015 to March 2016, primary and caucus debates have to take place.

Nominating Conventions

Following the electoral calendar, the main Democratic and Republican political parties will hold their nominating conventions between April and August 2016. Minor third parties are also programmed to hold the conventions within their period. It is during the nominating conventions of the parties the delegates elect the candidates who will be their parties presidential flag bearers.   The candidates who win the elections during the nominating conventions are finally invested by their parties.