the election of the president and vice president of the united states is an indirect vote in which citizens cast ballots for a set of members of the u.s. electoral college. these electors then cast direct votes for the president and vice president. if both votes result in an absolute majority, the election is over. if a majority of electors do not vote for president, the house of representatives chooses the president; if a majority of electors do not vote for vice president, the senate votes. presidential elections occur quadrennially on election day, which since 1845 has been the tuesday after the first monday in november, coinciding with the general elections of various other federal, state, and local races. the most recent united states presidential election was held on november 3, 2020.