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PHOTO: Reuters
The United States is voting for president and congress today, AFP reported.
A total of 230 million Americans have the right to choose whether Republican Donald Trump stays in the White House or is replaced by Democrat Joe Biden, reports BTA.
The US presidential election is indirect and in a single round. Although they put the name of their preferred presidential candidate on the ballot, voters actually voted for 538 voters, who in turn elect the president. To win the vote, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes cast, that is, 270.
Each state has a certain number of electoral votes. It is obtained by adding the number of congressmen of the respective state in the House of Representatives (which varies according to the population of the state) with the number of senators (two for each state). Although not a separate state, the District of Columbia, where the capital Washington is located, has three voters (but is not represented in the House of Representatives or Senate).
The candidate who gets the most votes in a state wins the votes of all local voters. Only two states make an exception to the “winner takes all” rule: Maine and Nebraska.
A very high turnout is expected this year. The preliminary vote is a record, as many voters prefer to cast their votes early to avoid crowds on Election Day amid a coronavirus pandemic. In 2016, 138 million Americans exercised their right to vote.
In addition to the president, Americans will vote to renew Congress. 35 new senators will be elected to the 100-seat upper house. The entire composition of the 435-member lower house of Congress will be renewed.
Democrats now control the House of Representatives and Republicans control the Senate.
The amount raised and spent by the campaign headquarters this year is a record, $ 6.6 billion for the presidential election alone, 2 billion more than in 2016.
In addition to the president and Congress, the United States will vote today for state legislatures and various elected officials (including governors of 13 states and territories), as well as for local referenda.
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