A LevelPoliticsEdexcelRevision Notes3a. Comparative Politics: Government & Politics of the USA (Option Unit)3a.5 US Democracy & ParticipationElectoral Systems in the USA: Presidential Elections

Electoral Systems in the USA: Presidential Elections (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

Exam code: 9PL0

Sarra Jenkins

Written by: Sarra Jenkins

Reviewed by: Lisa Eades

Updated on

Optional unit

Examiner Tips and Tricks

For Component 3, students only study ONE route: USA Politics (3A) or Global Politics (3B)

The process of electing a president

  • The process of electing a US president is long and complex, designed to test candidates’ popularity, organisation and electability

Curved road diagram illustrating the stages of the US presidential election: Invisible Primary, Primaries and Caucuses, National Party Conventions, Electoral College.

Stage 1: The invisible primary

  • The invisible primary occurs before formal voting and involves candidates securing endorsements, media attention and fundraising

    • In 2023 Joe Biden quickly gained endorsements from party leaders such as Hakeem Jeffries, discouraging serious challengers

  • Benefit

    • It filters out weak candidates early, reducing overcrowded ballots

  • Drawback

    • It favours establishment candidates with elite connections, limiting grassroots choices

    • Many candidates drop out during this stage

Stage 2: Primaries and caucuses

Primaries

Caucuses

  • Elections held by political parties to choose their candidates for public office

  • They allow party members to select who will represent the party in an election

  • Meetings of party supporters where members discuss issues and choose candidates

  • Used in the US instead of primaries during presidential nominations

  • Primaries and caucuses allow party members to vote for their preferred nominee

    • States like Iowa (caucus) and New Hampshire (primary) traditionally vote first

    • In 2024, Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucus in January with over 50% of the vote, reinforcing his frontrunner status

  • Benefit

    • Voters directly influence candidate selection rather than leaving it to the party to decide on candidates

  • Drawback

    • Turnout is often very low, particularly in caucuses, which can distort representation

Stage 3: National party conventions

  • Party conventions formally nominate candidates, unite the party and outline the party platform

    • In August 2024, the Democratic National Convention officially nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as candidates for the 2024 election

  • Benefit

    • The development of party unity around a single candidate and the subsequent media exposure for that candidate

  • Drawback

    • Outcomes are largely predetermined by the primary and caucus stage, reducing their democratic significance

Stage 4 - Electoral College

  • Voters technically vote for electors from their state to be pledged to a particular candidate, with 270 votes needed to win

    • In 2024, battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Arizona were decisive

  • Benefit

    • It preserves federalism by valuing all states, with each state having a minimum of three Electoral College votes

  • Drawback

    • It can override the popular vote, undermining democratic legitimacy, as in 2000 and 2016

The importance of incumbency

  • Incumbency means being the current holder of a political office

    • Incumbency provides significant advantages to candidates seeking re-election at both congressional and presidential levels

Benefit of incumbency

Explanation

Name recognition

  • Name recognition gives incumbents a major advantage, as voters are more likely to support familiar candidates

    • Biden’s status as sitting president in 2024 ensured high public recognition compared to lesser-known challengers from his party

Access to media coverage

  • Access to media coverage benefits incumbents, as official duties generate constant publicity

    • Biden’s presidential addresses and foreign visits in 2023-24 kept him visible throughout the campaign period

  • If a crisis occurs during election year, challengers can find themselves excluded from media, as the incumbent dominates with their response

Fundraising

  • Fundraising is easier for incumbents, who attract donors seeking influence

    • Biden raised over $90 million in the first quarter of 2024

Constituency service

  • Constituency service builds voter loyalty as incumbents can claim credit for local spending or policy benefits

    • States that benefitted from infrastructure funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allowed members of Congress in these states to claim some of the credit

Rose Garden strategy

  • Incumbents govern while campaigning, enabling presidents to appear statesmanlike, while challengers must actively attack

  • However, incumbency does not make a candidate unbeatable

    • Donald Trump, the incumbent in 2020, was not re-elected

      • Poor performance and public dissatisfaction can outweigh advantages

    • Joe Biden had to withdraw in 2024 to be replaced by Kamala Harris

      • Poor performances at debates led to increasing questions about his health and mental state

Case Study

Donald Trump and the 2020 Election

Two campaign badges, one for Trump 2020 in red and one for Biden 2020 in blue, lie on an American flag background.

  • Donald Trump ran for re-election in 2020 as an incumbent president

  • Despite this, he lost the election to Democratic candidate Joe Biden

  • This outcome can be explained by a combination of policy failures, economic conditions and electoral context

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic damaged public confidence

    • By November 2020, over 230,000 Americans had died from COVID-19

    • Critics argued that inconsistent messaging and resistance to public health measures undermined perceptions of presidential leadership

  • The pandemic became the central issue of the campaign, outweighing traditional incumbency advantages

Economic conditions and retrospective voting

  • Trump had previously relied on strong economic performance as a key campaign message

  • However, the pandemic triggered a sharp economic downturn

    • Unemployment peaked at 14.7% in April 2020, weakening support for Trump

  • Voters were less likely to reward the incumbent for economic management

Turnout and electoral dynamics

  • The 2020 election saw the highest voter turnout since 1900

    • Expanded mail-in voting increased participation, particularly among Democratic voters

  • High turnout benefited Biden in key swing states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan

Polarisation and voter coalitions

  • Joe Biden successfully appealed to moderate voters and suburban constituencies

  • Trump’s polarising rhetoric mobilised opposition voters as much as his own supporters

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Author
Reviewer
Sarra Jenkins

Author: Sarra Jenkins

Expertise: Content Writer

Sarra is a highly experienced A-Level Politics educator with over two decades of teaching and examining experience. She was part of the team that wrote the Edexcel 2017 Politics Specification and currently works as a Senior Examiner. A published author of 14 textbooks and revision guides, her expertise lies in UK and US politics, exam skills, and career guidance. She continues to teach, driven by her passion for this "evolving and dynamic subject".

Lisa Eades

Reviewer: Lisa Eades

Expertise: Business Content Creator

Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.