The election is split into a few stages, starting with candidates being selected and saying their pieces for both the Democratic and Republican party. Then, the candidates are narrowed down slowly on both sides, until there is one candidate standing for both of the parties. Following this, there are 3 major debates where they discuss the U.S.A’s economy, threats from foreign lands, major issues regarding different states, etc. All U.S. citizens above the age of 18 have the right to be registered, which then gives them the opportunity to vote once the polls are opened. This year the polls were opened at 6 am worldwide, and citizens in every state flooded schools, police and fire stations, businesses, and stores for the chance to cast in their vote. Social media flooded with pictures of the “I voted!” sticker, memes about the candidates, and political arguments began. In the Electoral College system, each state gets a certain number of votes based on its total number of representatives in Congress. Each elector casts one electoral vote following the general election; there are a total of 538 electoral votes. The candidate that gets over half the electoral votes wins the election.

This year our candidates the Republican side began at a high 17, 16 of whom eventually dropped out due to the overwhelming support following Trump, making him the most intimidating candidate to go against. The Democratic party stood at 6, Hilliary and Bernie taking the front saddle. The Republican candidates go as follow; Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, George Pataki, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, and Scott Walker. Donald Trump stands as the Republican nominee. The Democratic candidates go as follow; Lincoln Chafee, Lawrence Lessig, Martin O’Malley, Hilliary Clinton, Jim Webb, and Bernie Sanders. Hilliary Clinton stands as the Democratic nominee.

The presidential interregnum then begins, which is the time period where the incoming president decides on his or her government personnel, VP, and re-selected government heads, positions, and cabinet members. A week before the president-elect’s inauguration, they are moved into the White House with the help of Secret Service. President Obama and First Lady Michelle have already decided on living arrangements, and are due to leave the White House in January of 2017.

UPDATE:   11/07/16

The election is kicked off with the first few electoral votes going to Clinton, giving her the leverage. Trumps slowly catches up, eventually surpassing her. They continue this pattern for a little while, slowly adding numbers.

11:40 pm. (2:40 am NYC time)

Trump wins Pennsylvania, giving him the points that leverage him and take him over the halfway mark, putting the presidency in his hands. His crowd in NYC erupts in cheers and happiness, bouncing off the ground. The Clinton crowd dead silent, clearly stunned with the outcome.

11:45 pm

The Vice-president-elect emerges with his family at his side. “The American people have spoken” are his first words. Trump later walks out, humbled, with his family flanking him. He sheds a few tears, clearly overcome with emotion.

As of November 9, 2016, Donald J. Trump is officially the 2017 President-elect.