U.S. Presidential Election 2012

A politician who fancies his or her chances as president, starts exploring the possibility through a committee and raises money. This process can start as early as two years before the poll. Eventually the candidates formally announce their candidacy, and start campaigning in the main states.

Between January and June of the election year, the contest is within the parties to choose their presidential nominee in what are called the primaries.

Voters in states choose party delegates, most of whom have pledged their support to a specific candidate. In some states, a local meeting system called caucus is used.

The national party conventions, organized a few months before the election, are where the candidates are officially nominated.

By the time the party convention is held, both parties have a presidential nominee, and the two now gear up for the big fight.

Huge ad budgets and televised debates are a major feature of the modern US campaign. The last push in the battle is made in the ‘swing states’ — a group of around one dozen states such as Ohia and Iowa, where the outcome is by no means certain.

On voting day in November, the candidate, who wins most of the swing states makes it to the White House.

Reference:
Media Reports

U.S. Presidential Election 2012

The 57th quadrennial U.S. Presidential Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Throughout 2012, presidential hopefuls have set out on campaigns across the country, appearing at debates and speeches, vying for the presidential seat.

Statewide primary elections and caucuses to select the Republican nominee lasted from January 3 continuing through May 29, when Mitt Romney achieved the necessary 1,144 delegates, and June 5, when Romney received additional binding delegates, securing the spot for Republican presidential nominee.

The two major political parties select their candidates during their national conventions, scheduled for the week of August 27 for the Republican Party and September 3 for Democrats. In April 2011, incumbent President Barack Obama declared his intent to run for a second term, and will be the Democratic nominee. The Republican Party selected their candidate over the first half of 2012, which determined that Mitt Romney will oppose President Obama at the polls in November. Some third party candidates have been selected, and others will be selected during their respective national conventions in 2012.

Once the nominees are officially selected, the race to 270 electoral votes begins. The 2012 elections will be the first since the shift in electoral vote distribution following the 2010 Census, which could affect the outcome of the election. The change is effectively a net loss of electoral votes for the Democratic Party. Once the president is chosen by voters, the president will be inaugurated and take office. Inauguration Day will be Sunday, January 20. 2013. “Election Timeline” with respect to 2012 US Presidential Election refers to the timetable or schedule maintained and followed by different parties for a smooth and successful completion of the election procedures. In fact, a properly arranged Election Timelines are of utmost requirement for a hassle-free operation during national elections, involving millions of voters.

Mentioned below, is a detailed 2012 Election Timeline with respect to the 2012 Presidential Election in United States. More or less, the scheduling of the election activities of different parties in various states is clearly described here:

From the above Election Schedule, one can form a very good and clear idea about the election dates with respect to different American states as well as the last date for the registration of potential candidates. It also mentions the duration of the election dates in these states and also states the names of the offices and posts that are to be filled in through this election. In fact, the 2012 Election Timetable is a brief routine about all the election-related activities in United States of America.