The American presidential election is a process held every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Citizens aged 18 and older participate by casting their votes, typically on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The election involves a series of primaries and caucuses, where political parties select their candidates. Candidates from major parties, such as the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, campaign across the country to gain support. The election culminates in the Electoral College, where electors from each state formally cast their votes for the president based on the popular vote in their state.