How are Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States nominated?
Candidates for President and Vice President are nominated either through individual declaration or by the action of a major or minor political party. Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates nominated by the major parties are chosen at the national conventions of their respective parties. Delegates to these conventions are chosen on the State level by a variety of methods, including Presidential primaries, caucuses, conventions, or some combination of two or more of these elements. The process of delegate selection begins early in the Presidential election year, usually in late January or early February, and is completed well in advance of the national conventions, usually by June. National party conventions traditionally meet in July or August of Presidential election years, with the party “out of power” in the White House usually convening about one month prior to the other party. The prenomination campaign may begin within the major parties as early as a candidate wishes to ann
