U.S. presidential election, 2012 Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
This United States presidential election will be officially held on 6 November 2012 according to congressional law dating from 1845. However, "election day" has widened to "election month" from recent actions by many states to allow for early voting. In addition, Oregon has essentially eliminated polling booths by using a mail-in system, where registered voters do not actually go to designated voting place, but rather send in their votes through the mail. Recent polls have shown that 10% to 15% of all votes cast in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election will actually be cast prior to election day.
| Presidential Candidate | Electoral Vote | Popular Vote | Pct | Party | Running Mate (Electoral Votes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other elections: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 | |||||
| Source: U.S. Office of the Federal Register | |||||
Background
The electors for president and vice-president in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections will be distributed among the states according to the population numbers obtained in the 2010 United States Census. Judging from the changes made from the 2000 United States Census, states in the south, southwest, and along the Pacific coast will gain electors, while states in the upper midwest and New England will lose electors. As of 2004, most states allocate electors on a winner-take-all basis. Voters in Colorado considered an initiative in 2004 to allocate presidential electors proportionally, and although this referendum failed, there is the possibility of other states considering a similar change. Maine (since 1972) and Nebraska (since 1996) currently distribute their electors according to popular votes in congressional districts and state wide, although the electors have yet to be split among two parties in previous elections. All other states and the District of Columbia chose electors on a winner-take-all basis. If no changes are made to the total number of 538 electors, the winner will once again need 270 electoral votes to win the election.
The primaries leading up the 2012 election obviously will be affected by the 2004 and 2008 elections. Since George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, both major parties will have a competitive primary process in 2008. The winner of the 2008 contest will presumably represent their party in the 2012 election as well; no incumbent president who was eligible to run has not received their party's nomination since Lyndon Johnson declined to run in 1968. Consequently, either the Republican or Democratic party will have to competitive primary process to nominate a challenger to the current president.
On this election day, if no changes are made to the total number of congressmen, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 33 of 100 senators in the Senate will be up for election. In addition, numerous state-wide positions will be chosen on this day.
For names of some potential candidates conceivable at this time, see Potential candidates for 2008 in U.S. presidential election, 2008.
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