Super Tuesday, one of the most important days in the U.S. presidential election cycle, is now underway with primary elections across 16 states. But what is Super Tuesday?
Republican voters will choose between frontrunner Donald Trump and his last standing challenger, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is expected to be chosen to lead his party in the 2024 White House race.
Super Tuesday is a major test for presidential candidates. Here’s what you need to know.
Primaries
Each of the 50 states in the U.S. has its own rules in the lead-up to a presidential election.
Most states hold a vote called a “primary” ballot to select a presidential candidate — known as a party’s nominee.
In most cases, winners of primaries secure ‘delegates’, and whoever wins the majority of delegates typically becomes the party’s presidential candidate.
Delegates are awarded using a points system, and bigger states (e.g. California) usually have more delegates than smaller states (e.g. Rhode Island).
Why Tuesday?
Voting on a Tuesday is an American tradition dating back to the 19th century when Christian farmers needed enough time to travel to voting booths after Sunday church services.
Both the November presidential election and March’s Super Tuesday fall on the first Tuesday of the month.
The number of races on a Super Tuesday varies each election.
In 2008, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton faced off in 24 contests for the Democrat nomination.
Projected outcome
Recent primary contest results show it’s very likely former President Donald Trump will win the Republican party nomination.
His main rival, Nikki Haley, has lost seven races so far, including in her home state of South Carolina. She has only won a single primary poll in Washington D.C.
Similar to Trump, Joe Biden is poised to win the Democratic primary races, as he has no serious challenger.
What next?
Several more U.S. states will still vote in primary elections after Super Tuesday.
While the day is normally an indication of who will ultimately win the party’s nomination, it does not guarantee their overall victory.
The parties will officially choose their presidential candidates at a party convention later this year. Republicans will hold theirs in Milwaukee in July and the Democrats will choose their leader in Chicago in August.
