The U.S. presidential election is scheduled for 8 November.  The electoral system of the United States is rather complicated and CNN Politics presented some interesting facts about US presidential elections.

For example, more than 40% of all votes this year will be cast before the Election Day. In some states, residents are allowed even to vote early, change their mind and vote again.

Elections are held on Tuesday, a working day, this has an explanation. America once was a farming nation that went to church on Sundays and market on Wednesdays. Holding elections on Tuesdays gave farmers enough time to get to the polls, get back home, and get their products to market. Why November? So, people could vote after the fall harvest, but before winter weather made travel difficult.

Every U.S. citizen has a right to become a president. The person have to be at least 35 years old, have lived in the US for at least 14 years and be “a natural born citizen.”

The election is determined by the Electoral College. The process is very complicated.

The Electoral College is a group of people appointed by each party. The total number of electors is equal to the number of members in Congress: 538. Each state gets electors based on its population. So, Wyoming has 3; New York has 29. The goal is to get to 270, which is just over half of 538. Because of this wacky system, a candidate can get zero votes in thirty-nine states and DC and still win the presidency. In case of a draw, the chances of which are very small, the Congress chooses a president and the Senate – a Vice President.

CNN analysts pointed out that it was for the first time that presidential nominees are the most hated, despised and not credible candidates.

The inauguration of the new president will take place on January 20, 2017.