Whether it was a family discussion, a tweet, or a commercial, we all know that this year’s presidential campaigns are going on. On March 26th, Bernie Sanders swept Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington. On March 15, Trump won 4 of the 5 states hosting primaries. But what does that exactly mean for us and what do the recent wins mean for the candidates?
The recent wins from each state are from primaries. Each candidate needs a certain number of delegates (delegates and superdelegates are gained by winning primaries) to receive a nomination from their specified political party. For the Democratic Party, that number is 2,383. For the Republican Party, it is 1,237. Currently, Hillary Clinton leads the Democrats with 1,712 delegates and Donald Trump leads the Republicans with 739 delegates. Each state has a primary in which residents of that state can vote for who they think should receive the nomination. To follow who wins each state and gains delegates, click here. (Note: This website updates with every state’s final results). Essentially, once a delegate number is met, the person who has met that number is nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
More confused than you were before? Aren’t we all. The most important thing for us to do as college students is to get out and vote and let our voices be heard.
Not registered to vote yet? No worries, you still have a little bit of time to get applications in. Each state has different rules and regulations when it comes to voting and how early you must register. For example, if you would like to vote in New York’s primaries you must register to vote by April 19. For all the details in your individual state including registration information, locations, and qualifications, click here.
Worried that you won’t be around for a primary or Election Day in November? Don’t worry, there are different options for you. If you are away at school you may fill out an absentee ballot. This is usually mailed to your current school address, and is a way for you to have a voice in your state’s primary/the national presidential election. To learn about different types of voting including the absentee ballot and early voting click here.
If you’re unsure of who to vote for, make sure to research each candidate in order to make an informed decision. Remember that this person may one day run the country (to a degree) and should be a person who you feel fit for the job. To learn about each candidate’s positions on important topics click here.