2028 election glossary

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1951 that limits any person to being elected president no more than twice.

The majority of 538 total electoral votes a presidential candidate must reach to be elected president.

A competitive state where both major-party candidates actively campaign because the outcome is uncertain; used interchangeably with swing state.

A national party convention where no candidate arrives with enough delegates to win on the first ballot, requiring negotiation to select a nominee.

A party-organized local meeting where voters publicly gather and express their presidential preference to allocate delegates.

A primary election in which only voters registered with that party may participate.

A national party convention that requires multiple ballots to nominate a presidential candidate because no one clinched the needed delegates beforehand.

The national gathering of a political party's delegates that formally nominates the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

A party representative selected during primaries or caucuses who votes for a presidential nominee at the national convention.

The ability for eligible voters to cast their ballots before Election Day at designated polling locations.

The system of 538 electors who formally elect the US president; a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.

A vote cast by an Electoral College elector toward electing the president; each state's electors equal its House seats plus two Senate seats.

A survey of voters conducted just after they leave polling places on Election Day to estimate how different groups voted.

An Electoral College elector who casts a vote for a different candidate than the one they were pledged to support.

The phrase describing the state or contest that holds its presidential primary or caucus before all others in a given election cycle.

The sitting president currently holding office, who may seek reelection if constitutionally eligible.

Iowa's presidential nominating contest, which historically was held first in the nation and used a caucus format rather than a standard primary ballot.

New Hampshire's presidential primary, which has historically been the first primary election in the nation each presidential cycle.

The candidate formally selected by a political party to run for president in the general election.

A primary election in which any registered voter may participate regardless of their party affiliation.

A convention delegate who is bound by party rules to vote for a specific candidate based on primary or caucus results.

The total number of individual votes cast by citizens across the country for each presidential candidate.

A candidate who has effectively secured enough delegates to win the nomination but has not yet been formally confirmed at the party convention.

A state-run election in which voters choose their party's nominee for president by selecting among competing candidates.

An electoral system where voters rank candidates by preference; if no candidate wins a majority, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and those votes are redistributed.

The person a presidential candidate selects to be the vice-presidential candidate, joining them on the party's ticket.

The single day during primary season when the largest number of states hold their presidential primaries or caucuses simultaneously.

A Democratic Party automatic delegate - typically an elected official or party leader - who is not bound by primary results on the first ballot.

A state where neither major party has a consistent advantage, making it highly competitive and influential in presidential elections.

A constitutional restriction capping the number of times a person can be elected to a particular office.

The combined presidential and vice-presidential candidates of a political party running together in the general election.

A candidate whose name does not appear on the printed ballot and who must receive votes from voters writing in their name manually.