Elections

Elections are the main features of the United States government. The right for people to choose who they want to represent them.

When an election is approaching, political Parties have potential candidates that will attempt to run for that office. Often times, there is more than one candidate for the same party. These candidates of the same party campaign against each other until one of them emerges victorious. These are called the primary elections.

The winners of these primary elections go on to the general elections. The winners are the candidates of each party who now campaign against each other. There can only be one winner in each office in the general election. Therefore whoever wins in the general elections, will get the office.

Using the example of the recent ongoing elections:

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are campaigning against each other even though they are part of the Democratic Party. The winner of that campaign will go on to the general election to campaign against the winner in the Republican Party.

*State government works in a similar fashion.*

In order to vote in elections, you must be of 18 years or older, then you must register for that specific election. Voting is a right that people in the past have fought for and should not be taken for granted. Always make sure to vote when you can.