Before the general election in November, political parties must decide which candidate will represent them on the ballot. This selection process, known as the "nominating process," is a multi-step journey that gives voters a say in their party's future.
A primary is an election where voters choose their preferred party candidate. There are two main types:
In some states, parties hold caucuses instead of primaries. A caucus is a local meeting where party members discuss candidates and openly vote (sometimes by physically standing in a group) to choose their representative.
After the primaries and caucuses are finished, the results are used to send "delegates" to a national convention. This is where the party officially announces its nominee for President and Vice President.
Candidates who do not belong to a major party can still run in the general election, but they must usually gather thousands of signatures from voters to get their names placed on the ballot.