Presidential Elections & Inaugurations
Every four years, on the first Tuesday (after the first Monday) of November, we cast our votes for President of the United States. The 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration has a unique role in the election process: NARA鈥檚 administers the Electoral College.
On the following January 20, the President of the United States takes the oath of office. Take a look at historical inaugurations documented in records held by the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and its Presidential Libraries.
You can register to vote or update your registration at .
Featured Document
George Washington set many precedents as the first President of the United States, beginning the day he took office. See our Featured Document鈥斺�攖o learn how rituals observed during his inauguration laid the foundation for today鈥檚 inaugural traditions.
The Electoral College and the 威尼斯人娱乐场
How does the Electoral College work, and what is the Federal Register's role?
In early November, Americans go to the polls to elect a President and a Vice President who will serve for the next four years. But the voters don't directly vote for the candidates; they vote for "electors," individuals pledged to vote for the candidates, in what has become known as the Electoral College.
The Electoral College is a process, not a place. The process consists of the selection of the electors (called for by Article II and the 12th Amendment of the Constitution), the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress.
The Federal Register's role begins with sending instructions to the governments of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to receiving and reviewing certificates of votes to turning over the votes to Congress. Read more on the Federal Register's Electoral College page.