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Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images (Harris); Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images (Trump); dog illustration by Dave Perillo; Shutterstock.com (confetti, banner)
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Who Will Win?
Election Day is almost here. Meet the two main people hoping to become America’s next leader.
As You Read: How might people running for president try to win support from voters?
The United States has chosen a president every four years since the late 1780s. But this year’s election is shaping up to be unlike any other.
Election Day is November 5. The two main candidates are Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Harris has been the country’s vice president since 2021. Before that, she was a member of Congress. She represented California in the U.S. Senate. She helped write the nation’s laws.
Trump served as the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman. His companies have built apartment buildings, hotels, and golf courses around the world.
The United States chooses a president every four years. This has been true since the late 1780s. But this year’s election is unlike others.
Harris is the U.S. vice president. She’s had the job since 2021. Before that, she represented California in the U.S. Senate. She helped write the nation’s laws.
Trump was the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman. His companies have built hotels and golf courses around the world.
Kamala Harris
Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California
Where She Lives: Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, California
Family: Harris is married to Doug Emhoff. She is the stepmother of Emhoff’s two children, Cole and Ella.
Donald Trump
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Born: June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York
Where He Lives: Palm Beach, Florida
Family: Trump is married to Melania Trump. He has five children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron. He also has 10 grandchildren.
Each candidate represents one of the two biggest political parties in the U.S. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party. Trump is a Republican.
Both candidates have a chance to make history. If Trump wins, he’ll be the first president since 1892 to be elected twice but not in back-to-back elections. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the nation’s top job. She’s already the first Black woman and first Asian American to be chosen by a major party to run for president.
Each candidate represents one of the country’s two biggest political parties. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party. Trump is a Republican.
Both candidates could make history. If Trump wins, he’ll be elected twice but not in back-to-back elections. That hasn’t happened since 1892. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the nation’s top job. She’s already the first Black woman and first Asian American chosen by a major party to run for president.
Other Big Races
The presidential race isn’t the only one to watch. Here are some other positions up for grabs.
LOCAL: Many Americans will vote for a mayor. That’s the person in charge of a city or town. Mayors help make sure our local communities run smoothly.
STATE: In 2024, people in 11 states will elect a governor. That’s the head of each state’s government. Governors make decisions about things like what can be taught in public schools.
Illustration by Dave Perillo
NATIONAL: Most members of Congress are running too. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of Congress write the nation’s laws.
Learn more about the elections at scholastic.com/election.
Facing Off
Harris and Trump took part in a debate on September 10. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online.
The candidates were each asked to explain how they’d deal with the biggest problems facing the nation. Those issues include helping Americans find jobs and protecting the environment. Voters got the chance to compare the candidates’ different ideas.
Harris and Trump held a debate on September 10. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online.
The candidates explained how they’d deal with problems facing the country. For example, they talked about helping Americans find jobs. Voters had a chance to compare the candidates’ ideas.
Pause and Think
What might it be like to run for president?
The Road Ahead
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
Trump with his pick for vice president, J.D. Vance
To be elected president, a candidate will need tens of millions of votes. Harris and Trump will continue to campaign around the clock. They will try to gain as much support from voters as possible.
The candidates will travel the country day after day. They’ll hold rallies and give speeches. Both will also use social media to try to connect with voters.
To be elected president, a candidate will need millions of votes. Harris and Trump will continue to campaign nonstop. They will try to win as many votes as possible.
The candidates will travel across the country. They’ll give speeches at rallies. Both will use social media to connect with voters.
Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images
Harris with her pick for vice president, Tim Walz
Americans can expect to see plenty of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. Democrats and Republicans have both spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising.
Which candidate will convince more voters that they deserve the nation’s top job? We’ll find out soon!
Voters will see a lot of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. Democrats and Republicans have both spent many millions of dollars on ads.
Who will convince more voters that they should be president? We’ll find out soon!
Every Vote Counts!
Shutterstock.com
Our nation’s leaders have important jobs to do. But voters do too! It’s their responsibility to learn about the candidates and decide who to support.
Who is allowed to vote in the U.S.?
Almost all U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old can vote for president. Today that’s about 240 million Americans. But not everyone uses this important right. On average, only about 6 in 10 people who are allowed to vote actually do so.
Why is voting so important?
Voting gives people a say in how their country is run. The U.S. elected its first president in 1789—George Washington. Back then, few Americans were allowed to vote. They were mostly White men who owned land. Over time, women, Black people, and other groups fought for and won the right to vote too.
How do people actually vote?
Most people will vote at their local polling place. That could be a school or firehouse. Some Americans will fill out a paper ballot. That’s a form that lists all the candidates people can vote for. Others will vote using a ballot on a computer.
Many people will vote by mail. Voters will receive paper ballots a few weeks before Election Day. The ballots must be completed and returned on or before November 5.
1. Why does the article say that both main candidates for president “have a chance to make history”?
2. Based on the article, what are some ways that candidates for president try to convince people to vote for them?
3. Share three facts you can learn from the sidebar “Every Vote Counts!”
¿Quién ganará?
El Día de las Elecciones está cerca. Conoce a los dos protagonistas que esperan convertirse en el próximo líder de EE. UU.
Al leer, piensa en: ¿Cómo se puede conseguir el apoyo de los votantes?
EE. UU. ha elegido un presidente cada cuatro años desde finales de 1780. Pero las elecciones de este año no se parece a ninguna otra.
El Día de las Elecciones es el 5 de noviembre. Los dos principales candidatos son Kamala Harris y Donald Trump.
Harris ha sido la vicepresidenta del país desde 2021. Antes, fue miembro del Congreso. Representó a California en el Senado de EE. UU. Ayudaba a redactar las leyes del país.
Trump fue el 45º presidente de EE. UU de 2017 a 2021. Antes, fue empresario. Sus empresas han construido edificios de apartamentos, hoteles y campos de golf en todo el mundo.
Nació: el 20 de octubre de 1964, en Oakland, California
Dónde vive: Washington D.C. y Los Ángeles, California
Familia: Harris está casada con Doug Emhoff. Es madrastra de los dos hijos de Emhoff, Cole y Ella.
Nació: el 14 de junio de 1946, en Queens, Ciudad de Nueva York
Dónde vive: Palm Beach, Florida
Familia: Trump está casado con Melania Trump. Tiene cinco hijos: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany y Barron. También tiene 10 nietos.
Cada candidato representa a uno de los dos partidos políticos más grandes de EE. UU. Harris es miembro del Partido Demócrata. Trump, del Republicano.
Ambos candidatos tienen la oportunidad de hacer historia. Si gana Trump, será el primer presidente desde 1892 que es elegido dos veces, pero no en elecciones seguidas. Si gana Harris, será la primera mujer en ocupar el puesto más importante del país. Ya es la primera mujer negra y la primera asiática-estadounidense que es elegida por un partido importante para presentarse a las elecciones presidenciales.
Otras elecciones importantes
Las elecciones presidenciales no son las únicas a seguir. He aquí otros puestos en juego.
LOCAL: Muchos estadounidenses votarán por sus alcaldes. Son las personas que dirigen una ciudad o pueblo. Los alcaldes se encargan de que todo funcione bien en las comunidades locales.
ESTATAL: En 2024, se elegirán los gobernadores de 11 estados. Son las personas que administran los estados. Los gobernadores toman decisiones como qué se puede enseñar en las escuelas públicas.
NACIONAL: La mayoría de los miembros del Congreso también se presentan a las elecciones. El Congreso está formado por el Senado y la Cámara de Representantes. Los miembros del Congreso redactan las leyes del país.
Más información sobre las elecciones en scholastic.com/election.
Cara a cara
Harris y Trump participaron en un debate el 10 de septiembre. Lo siguieron más de 67 millones de personas por TV e Internet.
Los candidatos tuvieron que explicar cómo resolverían los principales problemas que tiene el país. Entre estos estaban ayudar a los estadounidenses a encontrar trabajo y proteger el medio ambiente.
Para y piensa
¿Cómo sería presentarse a las elecciones presidenciales?
El camino por delante
Trump con su candidato a vicepresidente, J.D. Vance
Para ser elegido presidente, un candidato necesita decenas de millones de votos. Harris y Trump seguirán haciendo campaña sin parar. Tratarán de conseguir el mayor apoyo posible de los votantes.
Los candidatos recorrerán el país día tras día. Celebrarán mítines y darán discursos. Los dos utilizarán también las redes sociales para tratar de conectar con los votantes.
Harris con su candidato a vicepresidente, Tim Walz
Seguro que vemos muchos anuncios de Harris y Trump en la TV e Internet. Dar a conocer sus mensajes será caro. Tanto demócratas como republicanos han gastado cientos de millones de dólares en publicidad.
¿Qué candidato convencerá a más votantes de que merece el puesto más importante del país? ¡Pronto lo sabremos!
Cada voto cuenta
Los líderes de nuestra nación tienen importantes deberes que cumplir. ¡Pero los votantes también! Es su responsabilidad informarse sobre los candidatos y decidir a quién apoyar.
¿Quién puede votar en EE. UU.?
Casi todos los ciudadanos de EE. UU. mayores de 18 años pueden votar por el presidente. Hoy son unos 240 millones de estadounidenses. Pero no todos hacen uso de este importante derecho. En promedio, solo 6 de cada 10 de los que pueden votar lo hacen.
¿Por qué es tan importante votar?
Al votar la gente participa en cómo se gobierna su país. EE. UU. eligió a su primer presidente en 1789: George Washington. Por entonces, pocos estadounidenses podían votar. La mayoría eran hombres blancos dueños de tierras. Con el tiempo, las mujeres, las personas negras y otros grupos lucharon por el derecho al voto y lo consiguieron.
¿Cómo se vota realmente?
La mayoría vota en un colegio electoral cercano. Puede ser una escuela o un parque de bomberos. Algunos estadounidenses rellenarán una papeleta. Es un formulario en el que aparecen todos los candidatos a los que se puede votar. Otros votarán a través de una papeleta en una computadora.
Muchos votarán por correo. Los votantes recibirán papeletas unas semanas antes del Día de las Elecciones. Las papeletas deben rellenarse y devolverse antes del 5 de noviembre.
1. ¿Por qué dice el artículo que los dos principales candidatos a la presidencia “tienen la oportunidad de hacer historia”?
2. Según el artículo, ¿de qué maneras tratan de convencer los candidatos a la gente para que vote por ellos?
3. Comparte tres datos que puedas aprender de la barra lateral “¡Cada voto cuenta!”.