When Is the Next US Election? Dates and Process

The next US presidential election takes place on Tuesday, 7 November 2028. A US election is the process by which Americans choose public officeholders at federal, state, and local levels, with the president formally chosen state by state through the Electoral College rather than the national popular vote. Americans have just voted in the 2026 midterm elections on 3 November 2026, when all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested.

Think of the American system as a relay rather than a single race. Voters hand the baton to party primaries, then to the November general election, then to the Electoral College and finally to Congress, which counts the result in January. For voters, political followers, traders, and investors trying to understand how US elections work and what they can move, this guide explains the election calendar, the difference between presidential and midterm races, voter requirements, the Electoral College, election security, political parties, campaign finance, and how election results can affect policy, legislation, and global markets across currencies, stocks, bonds, and commodities. The intention is to inform, not to advise.

Key takeaways

• When is the next US election? The next nationwide federal general election is the 2028 presidential election on Tuesday, 7 November 2028. Some states also hold off-year contests in November 2027.
• 2026 midterms: Held on 3 November 2026. Early tallies reported by the Associated Press show Democrats winning control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with several races still being counted.
• How does the US election work? Candidates win party nominations through primaries and caucuses, compete in the November general election and need 270 of 538 electoral votes to become president.
• Presidential vs midterm: Presidential years include the race for the White House. Midterms, held two years later, decide Congress, most governorships and thousands of state and local offices.
• Rules vary by state: Registration deadlines, early voting windows, ID rules and postal voting differ widely across the 50 states.
• Market relevance: Elections can shift expectations for tax, trade, spending and regulation, which is why traders often watch the US dollar, US indices, Treasury yields and gold around polling day.

What is US election?

A US election is the process by which American citizens choose who holds public office at the federal, state and local level, from the president down to school boards; at the national level, those offices are part of the federal government, where Congress makes up the legislative branch and the president leads the executive branch. Federal law fixes the date of the general election, while each state runs its own voting, counting and certification.

When people ask “what is US election” season, they usually mean one of three things:

• Presidential election: The race for president and vice president, held every four years.
• Midterm elections: Held halfway through a presidential term, covering Congress and many state offices.
• Off-year and local elections: State and municipal contests held in odd-numbered years.

Two terms come up constantly. A general election is the final November vote in which party nominees and independent candidates compete for the public’s support. The Electoral College is the group of 538 electors, set out in the US Constitution, with electors based on each state’s congressional representation, that formally elects the president and vice president.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the two major political parties in American politics. Smaller parties, such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party, also field candidates, but restrictive ballot access rules and limited funding make it hard for them to win federal office.

When is the US election? Key dates at a glance

The answer to “when is the US election” depends on which contest you mean. Federal general elections fall on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in even-numbered years, a rule chosen in part so farmers could travel to polling places after Sunday services and return home before the rest of the workweek. That rule means polling day can never be earlier than 2 November or later than 8 November.

When is the next US election?

With the 2026 midterms just completed, the next US election for federal office is the 2028 presidential contest. Before then, several states hold elections in 2027. Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi elect governors on a four-year cycle that falls in odd years, and Virginia and New Jersey hold state legislative elections. Special elections can also be called at short notice when a seat in Congress becomes vacant.

When is the US presidential election?

The US presidential election is held every four years, in years divisible by four: 2020, 2024, 2028 and so on. The 2028 vote falls on 7 November 2028. The winner takes office on 20 January 2029, the date fixed by the Twentieth Amendment, and serves a four-year term.

How does the US election work?

So, how does the US election work in practice? The presidential process runs for well over a year and narrows the field at every stage. Here is the sequence from first announcement to Inauguration Day.

1. Exploration and fundraising. Would-be candidates test support, hire staff and build donor networks, often one to two years before polling day.
2. Formal declaration. Once a candidate raises or spends more than USD 5,000, they must register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
3. Primary elections and caucuses. From January to June of the election year, party members in each state choose their preferred nominee. These contests developed over time, and Florida held the first presidential primary in 1901.
4. National conventions. In July or August, the major political parties use political conventions to formalize nominations for president and vice president and adopt a platform, though these events are now mostly ceremonial because the races are usually settled beforehand.
5. General election campaign. From late summer to November, nominees debate, advertise and face off with other candidates while concentrating on competitive swing states.
6. Election Day. Voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to both the presidential and vice presidential candidate on a ticket.
7. Certification and the Electoral College. As part of the presidential election process, states certify results, electors vote in December and Congress counts the votes in early January.
8. Inauguration. The new president is sworn in at noon on 20 January.

Federal laws such as the Federal Election Campaign Act shape fundraising and disclosure. Most other details, including how ballots are cast and counted, are left to the states.

Who can run and who can vote?

Requirements for presidential candidates

The Constitution sets three conditions. A presidential candidate must be a natural-born US citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The vice president must meet the same requirements.

The Twenty-second Amendment limits a president to two elected terms. Someone who serves more than two years of a predecessor’s term can be elected only once in their own right, so the maximum time in office is 10 years.

Requirements for voters

Voters must be US citizens aged 18 or over on Election Day. States then add their own rules on residency, registration and identification, and they differ on whether people with past felony convictions can vote. These rules change regularly, so official state election websites are the reliable source and also explain how to request an absentee ballot and track voting deadlines.

Primaries, caucuses and the road to the nomination

Before the general election, each political party picks its nominee through state-by-state contests. These contests help voters in the same political party choose who will represent them in November, and they select delegates who later vote at the national convention.

Types of primary

• Closed primary: Only voters registered with that party can take part.
• Open primary: Any registered voter can choose which party’s ballot to use.
• Semi-closed primary: Unaffiliated voters can join either party’s contest, but members of another party cannot.

Primary elections are state-run contests, and the rules differ by state.

Caucuses are party-run meetings rather than state-run ballots. Participants gather, discuss the candidates and vote, sometimes openly. Fewer states use caucuses today, although Iowa Republicans still traditionally open the presidential calendar.

Early contests, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, carry weight well beyond their population size. Because voter turnout in these contests is often lower than in general elections, early states can wield outsized influence relative to their size. Strong results generate media coverage and donations, while weak ones often push candidates out of the race. Delegates are then awarded either proportionally or on a winner-takes-all basis, depending on party and state rules.

National conventions: making the nomination official

National conventions have been part of American politics since the 1830s. Today, political conventions mostly confirm the choice voters have already made in the primaries, and because those races are usually decided before June, they are now largely scripted ceremonial events with less suspense and less television coverage than they once had.

A typical convention follows this pattern:

• Delegates are credentialed and seated
• Party leaders and rising figures deliver keynote speeches
• A roll-call vote confirms the presidential nominee
• The vice presidential nominee is confirmed
• Both nominees give acceptance speeches

Reforms that followed the 1968 Democratic convention gave primary voters, not party bosses, the decisive say. A contested convention, in which no candidate arrives with a majority of delegates, is now rare. Conventions have become large media events designed to unite the party and launch the autumn campaign.

The general election campaign and Election Day

After the conventions, nominees turn to the wider electorate. The autumn campaign usually features televised debates, where nominees must defend their positions against other candidates before the wider electorate, heavy advertising across TV and social media, and get-out-the-vote operations in swing states, where the result is genuinely uncertain.

On Election Day, voters are technically choosing a slate of electors rather than voting for a candidate directly. In the same ballot, they also vote for House members, about one third of senators, and a long list of state and local offices and ballot measures.

Media organisations such as the Associated Press project winners on election night using partial returns and statistical models. Those projections are not official. Certification is carried out by state and local election officials and can take days or weeks, particularly when races are close or large numbers of postal and provisional ballots need counting.

The Electoral College: how the president is formally chosen

The Electoral College is a process, not a place. Each state receives electors based on its number of House members plus its two senators, and some small states have a single seat in the House. Washington, DC receives three electors under the Twenty-third Amendment, giving 538 in total. A candidate needs more than half of the 538 electoral votes, or 270, to win.

How electoral votes are awarded

• Winner-takes-all: In 48 states and DC, the candidate who wins the statewide vote receives all of that state’s electoral votes.
• District method: Maine and Nebraska give two electors to the statewide winner and one to the winner of each congressional district. Nebraska’s 2nd District, around Omaha, has split from the rest of the state in recent elections.

Electors meet in their state capitals in December, and each elector casts one vote for president and one for vice president. Congress counts the certificates in a joint session on 6 January, confirming the result and marking the shift from sitting president to president-elect after certification. The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 tightened this process, confirming that the vice president’s role in the count is ceremonial and raising the threshold for objections to one fifth of each chamber. The National Archives guide to the Electoral College sets out the full timetable. The Supreme Court has ruled states may penalize or replace faithless electors.

If no candidate reaches 270, and no candidate receives a majority of the electoral vote, the Twelfth Amendment sends the decision to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation casts one vote for president. The Senate separately chooses the vice president.

Because results are decided state by state, a candidate can win the national popular vote and still lose the presidency. This happened in 2000 and 2016, and it remains the main source of debate about the system.

How voting works: registration, early and postal voting

US elections are run by thousands of local jurisdictions under state law. In most states, the secretary of state acts as chief election officer and publishes official dates, polling locations and registration rules.

Voter registration

Almost every state requires voters to register in advance, online, by post or in person. Deadlines range from about 30 days before Election Day to same-day registration in some states. North Dakota is the exception, with no voter registration at all; residents show qualifying identification at the polls.

In some states, voters declare a party affiliation when they register. In a closed primary state, that choice decides which primary they can vote in.

Early, absentee and postal voting

Most states now offer early in-person voting, with windows that range from a few days to more than six weeks. Postal voting falls into three broad models:

Take note that return deadlines differ. Some states count ballots that arrive after Election Day if they are postmarked in time, while others only count ballots received by the close of polls. Many states also allow “ballot curing”, which gives voters a chance to correct a missing or mismatched signature before a ballot is rejected.

US citizens living abroad and service members can vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The Federal Voting Assistance Program explains how to request a ballot from the last state of residence.

Midterm elections: the mid-term check on the president

Midterm elections take place two years after each presidential election, in even years not divisible by four: 2022, 2026, 2030. They choose members of Congress, the legislative branch, while the presidency itself is not on the ballot.

In every midterm:

• All 435 House seats are contested in the House of Representatives, the lower house, as House members serve two-year terms
• About one third of the 100 Senate seats are contested in the Senate, the upper house, as senators serve staggered six-year terms
• Most states elect governors, attorneys general and state legislators

Historically, the sitting president’s president’s party tends to lose House seats in midterms, and voters often treat the elections as a referendum on the president’s performance. The result can produce a divided government, where the White House and Congress are controlled by different parties. Shifts in control of Congress can either support or block the president’s agenda and shape how much influence the executive branch has over policy in the federal government.

The 2026 midterm elections in context

The 2026 midterms were held on 3 November 2026, with 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships on the ballot alongside the full House. Republicans entered the cycle holding 53 Senate seats and a narrow House majority.

Early results point to a major shift, reflecting how economic dissatisfaction can hurt the incumbent party. According to Al Jazeera’s summary of the Associated Press tally, Democrats had won at least 228 House seats and 54 Senate seats by 4 November, giving them control of both chambers. CBS News reported Senate flips in states including Texas, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina and Maine, with races in Alaska and Mississippi still to be called. In a 50–50 chamber, vice president jd vance would cast the tie-breaking vote, which is why the final seat count matters.

Reporting and exit polling highlighted several themes:

• Cost of living: Prices, inflation and fuel costs featured heavily in voter concerns, and voter dissatisfaction with the economy was a crucial factor in the 2026 midterm outcomes.
• Foreign policy: The iran war, and its effect on petrol prices, shaped how many voters judged the administration.
• Access to abortion: Ballot measures on access to abortion were also central issues in several midterm contests.
• A referendum on the president: President Donald Trump urged voters to treat the vote as a verdict on his leadership, and several candidates he endorsed lost.

Remember that final seat totals can change as states finish counting and certify results over the coming weeks.

Congressional and state races on the same ballot

Every federal general election is also a state and local election. Understanding the “down-ballot” races helps explain why results matter beyond the White House.

Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, and its balance of power can shape the president’s agenda.

House districts are redrawn after each ten-yearly census. Partisan gerrymandering, the drawing of boundaries to favour one party, can decide how many seats are genuinely competitive. That gives state legislatures influence over national politics well beyond their own chambers.

Political parties, campaign money and the media

The Constitution does not mention political parties, yet political party organisations structure nearly every contest. Parties run primaries, organise conventions, raise money and recruit volunteers, while candidates also rely on the same political party machinery for recruiting, fundraising and voter outreach across election cycles.

Campaign finance at a glance

• Contribution limits apply to donations made directly to candidates and parties.
• Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited sums on independent advertising, provided they do not coordinate with campaigns. Their growth followed the 2010 Citizens United ruling.
• Disclosure rules require campaigns to report donors and spending to the FEC.
• Public financing exists for presidential campaigns but has rarely been used by major candidates in recent cycles.

Campaign communication has moved from television towards social media, targeted digital adverts and small-dollar online fundraising. That shift means voters see more information, and more misinformation, than ever. Official election offices and non-partisan fact-checkers remain the most reliable sources.

Election security and the debate over the system

Confidence in elections has become a political issue in its own right since the disputed 2000 and 2020 presidential contests. Documented cases of in-person voter impersonation are extremely rare. Election officials point to paper ballot trails, risk-limiting audits and cybersecurity standards as the main safeguards, and the US Election Assistance Commission publishes guidance for local administrators.

Debates continue over voter ID laws, the removal of names from voter rolls and gerrymandering. Supporters say these measures protect integrity; critics say they make voting harder for some groups. Reform proposals for the Electoral College include:

• The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, under which member states would award their electors to the national popular vote winner
• Proportional or district-based allocation of electoral votes
• Ranked-choice voting, already used in some states and cities

Presidential vs midterm elections: how they compare

Turnout, media attention and political stakes look very different depending on the cycle, and voter turnout is typically higher in presidential years than in midterms. According to US Census Bureau voting data, reported turnout among voting-age citizens was 66.8% in 2020, 65.3% in 2024 and 52.2% in the 2022 midterms.

Unlike parliamentary systems, where the prime minister depends on a majority in the legislature, the US elects its president separately from Congress and does not require support from a majority in the lower house to govern. That separation is why divided government is common, and why midterm results can reshape what a president is able to pass in the second half of a term.

Why the US election matters to financial markets

The US economy is the world’s largest, the US dollar is the main global reserve currency and US stock indices are watched by investors everywhere. Elections can change expectations about taxes, tariffs, government spending, regulation and the direction of foreign policy, so markets often react before, during and after polling day.

Traders commonly watch:

• The US dollar and forex markets: Policy expectations can move major currency pairs. A broad grounding in forex trading helps explain why.
• US stock indices: The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones can react to the prospect of tax or regulatory change, and specific sectors such as energy, healthcare, defence and technology often respond to policy platforms. Learn more about indices trading.
• Treasury yields and bonds: Expectations for government borrowing and deficits can influence bond prices. CFD bonds let traders follow these moves.
• Gold: Uncertainty sometimes increases interest in safe-haven assets, and gold trading is one of the most closely followed during election periods.
• Economic data and the Fed: Elections sit alongside regular releases such as Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation and non-farm payrolls, as well as decisions on the federal funds rate.

A few precautions to take note of

• Volatility can rise sharply. Prices can jump on election night as results come in, and spreads may widen when liquidity is thin.
• Gaps are possible. Markets can open at a very different level from the previous close if results land outside trading hours.
• Polls are not outcomes. Markets sometimes price in a result that does not happen, and reversals can be quick.
• Risk tools help. Setting a stop loss and take profit in advance, and understanding negative balance protection, are sensible reminders for any event-driven period.

Contracts for difference (CFDs) let traders speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset. Because CFDs use leverage, gains and losses can both be magnified, so a clear plan matters more than any prediction about who wins. A good starting point is a guide to CFD trading.

How to prepare to vote in a US election

For eligible American voters, taking part is a short series of steps rather than a single action.

1. Check your registration early. Confirm your address and, where relevant, your party affiliation before your state’s deadline.
2. Find your state’s official election site. It lists dates, early voting windows, postal ballot deadlines and ID rules, and USA.gov links to every state’s election office; Vote Foundation also offers state-specific voter alerts, including registration and absentee-ballot deadlines.
3. Make a voting plan. Decide whether to vote early, by post or on Election Day, and confirm your polling place, or use a Voter Journey Map to prepare for the next election with state-specific instructions from registration through ballot tracking.
4. Research the full ballot. Look beyond the top race to congressional, state and local contests and ballot measures, using non-partisan voter guides and sample ballots.
5. Track your ballot. Many states let postal voters check that their ballot was received and accepted.

With the 2026 midterms complete, attention now turns to the 2027 off-year contests and the 2028 presidential race. The rules can shift between cycles, so checking official sources well in advance is the simplest precaution for whatever upcoming contest you are preparing to vote in.

Read more : What are the US midterm elections

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Frequently asked questions

When is the next US election?

The next US federal general election is the presidential election on Tuesday, 7 November 2028, following the 2026 midterms held on 3 November 2026. Some states, including Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, hold off-year elections for state offices in 2027, and special elections can be called at any time to fill vacancies.

How does the US election work for choosing a president?

Parties choose nominees through primaries and caucuses, then confirm them at national conventions. In November, voters in each state choose electors pledged to a ticket. Most states award all their electors to the statewide winner, and the candidate who secures more than half of the 538 electoral votes, or 270, becomes president; if no candidate receives a majority, the House chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president.

What is the difference between a presidential election and a midterm election?

A presidential election decides the president and vice president, alongside every House seat and about one third of the Senate. A midterm election, held two years later, covers the same congressional seats and many state offices, but the presidency is not on the ballot. Voter turnout is usually lower in midterms.

Can a candidate win the popular vote and lose the US election?

Yes. Because the Electoral College counts votes state by state, a candidate can receive more votes nationally and still fall short of 270 electoral votes. This happened in the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections, and it is a central argument in debates over reforming the system.

Sources

• Al Jazeera, Democrats win control of House and Senate: Key US midterms takeaways, 4 November 2026
• CBS News, 2026 midterm election updates, 4 November 2026
• National Archives, Electoral College
• US Census Bureau, Voting and Registration
• Federal Election Commission
• US Election Assistance Commission
• Federal Voting Assistance Program
• USA.gov, Voting and elections

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