Once a president has served four years in office, America holds an election for the president of the United States of America. Once every four years, elections are started and held nationwide every first Tuesday of November. This year happens to be an election year and voting will be allowed to begin this year on November 5, 2024. In order to meet the requirements for the presidency you must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. Every spring of the year before the election candidates typically register with the Federal Election Commission to run for president and have announced their run for president according to USA.gov. 

From there the primary and caucus debates eventually take place. The primaries and caucuses are two ways people help states and political parties select presidential nominees. The then-elected nominees participate further in presidential debates to win over potential votes in the electoral college. Student Fransisco Pimento said, “I do think the election does matter to a certain degree, the only presidents I’ve liked are Trump and Obama. Trump had given us lower gas prices, it cost me 80 dollars to fill up.” 

Student Nickolas Hogan said, “There is no runner I’m supporting, I feel like we need a blank slate. All these runners have been the same.” A big day for the primary contests will be on ¨Super Tuesday,¨ March 3. That is when multiple states will hold their primary contests. Even with facing 91 criminal charges, the New Hampshire primary was held with Trump having won the majority of the vote by 54% and Haley right behind him having 43%. Trump has also won the Iowa caucus with winning the majority vote of 51% beating DeSantis, Haley, and Ramamswamy. Hogan said, “I think the next president could help be elected if they seriously think about rent and tax control, especially in California.” 

Some popular candidates for the primary and caucus debates include former president Donald Trump whose political positions include a large effort to deport illegal citizens in the United States. He has also promised to close the Education Department and promote prayer in school. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is a former U.N. Ambassador and is pro-life. Current President Joe Biden is supportive of decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level and also supports same-sex marriage. Vivek Ramaswamy is the child of immigrant parents from Kerala, India. 

Ramaswamy is a self-made billionaire entrepreneur who founded the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences. Student Aaron Casas said,  “I’m supporting Ramamswamy because the other candidates don’t seem fit.” Ramaswamy does consider himself to be pro-life for the exception of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. As of January 23, 2024, some candidates have dropped out of the race including former Florida governor, Ron DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott.