680NEWS

For the Democratic nomination process, pledged delegates from each state are chosen based on the proportion of the popular vote each candidate receives -- so 50 per cent of the vote in a state's primary equals 50 per cent of the state's pledged delegates. However, a candidate has to garner at least 15 per cent of the state's vote to receive delegates (source: CNN). There is no procedure in place for superdelegates.

On the Republican side, the states decide of how the delegates are awarded to each candidate. In a few winner-take-all states, whichever candidate gets the most votes gets all the delegates. Some also use the proportional representation system. The party does not adhere to the 15-percent marker rule. For the Republicans there are the pledged and unpledged delegates.

The conventions mark the end of the primary election, with a focus on the general election in November. On the day of the election, the 50 states and the District of Columbia elect members of the Electoral College.

On the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors meet in their states to vote for the president and vice-president. According to the Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Article Two of the U.S. Constitution), an Electoral College will then elect the president – 270 votes are needed for a majority. The president-elect has to receive that majority to be president. The case is also the same for vice-president. In rare occasions where no majority is reached, the House of Representatives will then vote for a president, while the Senate will vote for the vice-president.

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Glossary

• Primaries

A state primary election determines which candidates for president will be supported by that particular state at the national conventions. They can be closed, semi-closed, open or semi-open.

Closed: voters can only vote in the primary if they are registered members of that party.

Semi-closed: non-registered members can also participate in the state primary.

Open: a registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation.

Semi-open: all voters may vote in any single primary, but must publicly declare which primary they will vote in before entering the voting booth.

• Caucuses

A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of each party.

• U.S. presidential election

The 56th consecutive quadrennial election for president and vice-president -- will be held on November 4. The federal election corresponds with this year's Senate, House of Representatives elections and gubernatorial elections, as well as many state and local elections.

• Convention

Republican National Convention: The 2008 Republican National Convention will take place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. from September 1-4, 2008. This is when the delegates at the convention choose and nominate the Republican presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2008 presidential election. (source: Wikipedia).

Democratic National Convention: The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be held from August 25-28 in Denver, Colo. This is when the delegates nominate a candidate for the presidency. (source: Wikipedia).

• Delegates

Chosen or elected by the state based with the understanding that he or she will support a candidate at the convention. There are three main types of delegates: pledged, unpledged and superdelegates. When voters cast ballots for a candidate in a presidential caucus or primary, they may actually be voting to award delegates to vote for a candidate at the state or national convention.

The magic number for the Democrats is 2,025 out of 4,049 delegates, while the votes needed for the Republicans is 1,191 out of 2,380.

• Pledged Delegates

Determined by primaries and caucuses and pledges to the candidate they voted for at the national conventions.

• Unpledged Delegates (RNC members)

Republican party officials guaranteed national convention seats and can support the candidate of their choice. (Republican) -- they are elected and chosen and although are free to vote whichever candidate they want, often commit to a particular candidate. (source: CNN)

• Superdelegates (Democrat Only)

Include party officials and officeholders who can support candidate of their choice and who can change support before the convention.

• Electoral College

The 538 presidential electors who gather very four years to vote for the president and vice-president. These electors (one for each of 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators; and three for the District of Columbia) are elected by voters of that state on the general election day.