Voters' Guide for 2008 Elections

Every four years, political parties nominate candidates to run for President of the United States. Although all parties use conventions to nominate their candidates, in most states the Democratic and Republican parties also run state-wide caucuses or primary elections. The results of the primary influence how the delegates to their respective party's convention will cast ballots for candidates for President. The degree to which convention delegates are bound by the results of the primary elections or caucuses varies from state to state. The presidential candidate then chooses a running mate for vice president.

These party candidates them compete in a General Election, which is held on the first Tuesday in November of years divisible by the number four. The president is not elected directly by popular vote, but instead by a majority of the 538 votes of the Electoral College. Each state's number of votes is equal to the number of congressional representative (2 Senators and the Representatives). Washington DC has 3 electoral votes. Maryland (with 2 Senators and 8 Representatives) has 10 votes in the Electoral College.

On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors of the Electoral College meet in their state capitals and cast their votes. Electors are pledged to vote for the candidate chosen by their state, and electoral college votes are done on a "winner take all" system, so that the candidate with the majority of the popular vote in a state gets 100% of the Electoral votes from that state. If no candidate wins a majority (270 votes) then the House of Representatives votes, with each state getting one vote.