These days the most important international news comes from the USA, with the media zooming in on the national elections with an in-depth coverage. This year’s elections are special because it is the first time in history that two sitting senators are running for president against each other. It is also the first time an African-American is a presidential nominee for a major party. However, the election procedure prior to the inauguration (the ceremonial act of appointing the president) is so complex that few people actually understand it.
In the United States, as well as in Croatia, you have to be 18 to have suffrage or the right to cast a vote and thus choose candidates. The common procedure is to vote by ballot which is a piece of paper listing the candidates running for the office. The voters cast their ballots into ballot boxes at polling stations. At the close of the election all boxes are taken to a single location for tallying.
It all begins with nominations. The candidates are nominated either through individual declaration or by the action of a major or minor political party. Major-party candidates are chosen at the national conventions of their respective parties. This year the Democratic party saw a fierce struggle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, eventually resulting in Obama’s selection. Once the candidates are selected, the general election campaign begins. Traditionally, campaigns by major-party presidential candidates start on Labor Day and continue for about two months.
