U.S. Elections 2012 (DOS photo)

Free and fair elections are the keystone of any democracy. They are essential for the peaceful transfer of power. The United States has been a representative democracy since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788 — although the electoral tradition began during the colonial era and had its roots in British history.

Background materials for the election and election process in the United States of America:

• 2012 Primary Schedule
• Political Party Conventions
• Campaign Finance Reform and the 2004 Election  (McCain-Feingold) 
• FAQs 
• Federal Election Commission Regulates Presidential Campaigns 
• Financing Campaigns 
• Glossary of U.S. Election Terms 
• The Role of Political Parties 
• USA Elections in Brief or e-Book (PDF, 3.8Mb)
• What happens after elections ?

U.S. Elections News

• Second Obama-Romney Debate Reflects Americans' Economic Concerns Their chosen topics reflected a U.S. electorate whose main concern is the state of the American economy and employment prospects...

• After First Debate, Incumbent Faces Re-energized Challenger On October 3, with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance, the Republican and Democratic nominees to the U.S. presidency faced off in the first of three scheduled debates.

• Presidential Debates Come Too Late to Influence Some U.S. Voters In the hours leading up to the first debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees to the U.S. presidency, pundits and political analysts are themselves debating whether the matchup will change minds.

• U.S. Comedians Eagerly Await Presidential Debates Most U.S. voters have already decided between President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ahead of the presidential debates, but up to 5...

• Presidential Debates Come Too Late to Influence Some U.S. Voters U.S. presidential candidates’ last, best chance to win votes will come too late for some voters because the first televised debate airs after early voting...
• Conservatives Gather in Washington "Values voters" assemble in Washington to collaborate on the conservative strategy for success in the 2012 U.S. elections. This reliably Republican group of voters tends to be among the more conservative factions within the Republican Party.  

• Paul Ryan Runs for Two Elected Offices Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, is seeking re-election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives even as he campaigns with Mitt Romney for the White House. 

• Obama-Romney TV Debates Set for October There will be three televised debates between President Obama and former Governor Romney in October, offering both a chance to sway undecided voters, while also testing their adeptness in live, unscripted moments. 

• As Democratic Convention Ends, Presidential Campaign Intensifies In the wake of the Democratic National Convention, Charlotte, North Carolina, is cleaning up confetti and taking down the red-white-and-blue bunting. But across the nation, campaigning begins in earnest as both parties redouble their efforts to win the American electorate. 

• Michelle Obama Reaches Out to Voters

  First lady Michelle Obama addresses delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 4, the opening day of the convention. 

• Obama, Romney Choose Stand-Ins for Debate Practice

  To prepare President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the upcoming presidential debates, their campaigns have chosen prominent politicians as impersonators to provide realistic sparring partners and to portray their rivals at their best. 

• Keynote Address Has Democrats Seeing Double

  San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, introduced by his twin brother, Joaquin Castro, delivers the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4. 

• U.S. Political Party Conventions Evolve to Remain Relevant

• 13 August 2012  Romney Picks Fiscal Conservative Paul Ryan as Running Mate 
• 13 July 2012 Latinos' Political Power Growing, Experts Say 
• 13 July 2012 African Americans Could Prove Decisive in Some Swing States 
• 11 July 2012 In U.S. Elections, "Swing State" Voters Get the Most Attention 
• 22 June 2012 Young Delegates Enthusiastic About 2012 Political Conventions 
• 22 June 2012  Memories of 1968 Democratic Convention Still Resonate 
• 21 June 2012 Foreign Press See U.S. Conventions Through a Different Lens 
• 13 June 2012 Conventions Stress Voter Access, Community Service 
• 13 June 2012 U.S. Political Party Conventions Evolve to Remain Relevant 
• 12 June 2012 Political Conventions Aim to Dazzle 
• 31 May 2012 Two Cities Prepare for Presidential Nominating Conventions  
• 30 May 2012 Texas Gives Romney Majority Needed for Republican Nomination 
• 14 May 2012 African-American Voters Set to Play Key Role in November Election 
• 13 April 2012 Who Are America’s Independent Voters? Why Are They Crucial? 
• 10 April 2012 "Ready to Run" Invites Women to Jump into Politics 
• 23 March 2012 Surviving News Media a "Good Test" for Candidates 
• 21 March 2012 U.S. Elections: 2012 Primary Schedule  
• 19 March 2012 American Political Candidates Need More than Money to Win
• 28 February 2012 Election Officer Training Ensures Fairness at U.S. Polls
• 09 February 2012 Visiting Journalists Learn About U.S. Political Process
• 06 February 2012 Romney Win in First Republican Race in West Fails to Shrink Field
• 03 February 2012 After Florida, Republican Presidential Hopefuls Move West
• 24 January 2012 American Electorate Has New Face for 2012 Race
• 22 January 2012 South Carolina Voters Keep Things Interesting in White House Race
• 04 January 2012 Whew! That Was Close
• 11 January 2012 Republican Candidates Face New Hampshire Voters 
• 04 January 2012 Iowa Has Spoken. Does It Matter?   
• 04 January 2012 Financing Campaigns  
• 04 January 2011 U.S. Elections: Caucuses Explained 
• 28 December 2011 U.S. Elections: 2012 Primary Schedule 
• 02 November 2011 Federal Election Commission Regulates Presidential Campaigns 
• 01 November 2011  Road to the White House Is Paved with Delegates