2016 United States presidential election

The next election for President of the United States of America is expected to take place on November 8, 2016. Voters will select electors who will in turn nominate a candidate for the office. In practice the electors are already pledged to particular candidates, and their names do not even appear on the ballot papers in many states. As the presidency is limited to two terms, the incumbent, Barack Obama, is not eligible to serve again.

Throughout 2015 and into 2016, several potential candidates sought selection for the official nomination from their own political party. In July 2016, Donald Trump was formally adopted as the Republican candidate, and Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party nominee. The Republican contest was more split than the Democrat race, until Ted Cruz and John Kasich withdrew in May, following Marco Rubio in March. Bernie Sanders, the second-placed contender for the Democratic nomination, formally endorsed Clinton in July; some of the other Republican contenders, on the other hand, refused to endorse Trump.

Other candidates for the presidency include Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, Jill Stein of the Green Party and independent Evan McMullin, who is appealing mainly to anti-Trump Republicans. The authorities in each state decide which candidates are important enough to appear on the ballot paper, though many also allow write-in votes (details vary).