Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Presidential primary elections and caucuses in the U.S. - statistics & facts
In the United States, primary elections or caucuses are a vital precursor to the nation's presidential elections, ultimately dictating who each party will nominate for the presidential election. Occurring six to nine months beforehand, both primaries and caucuses operate by allocating delegates to candidates, with the process varying across states and political parties. While primary elections distribute delegates simply based on statewide voting outcomes, some states opt for caucuses, which involve local party meetings involving discussions, candidate support group formations, and formal voting. Delegates are then assigned based on caucus outcomes, with the selection process extending to regional, district, and state conventions, ultimately culminating in the national convention.
