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Glossary
General Election

Civics Glossary

General Election

Elections

Last verified: June 2026

Definition

The election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.

Related Terms

Midterm Election

Elections held halfway through a president's term. All 435 House seats and ~1/3 of Senate seats are contested.

Primary

An election held by a political party to choose its nominee for the general election.

More Elections Terms

Absentee Ballot

A ballot submitted by a voter who cannot or chooses not to vote in person.

Ballot Initiative

A process allowing citizens to propose new laws by collecting signatures and placing the measure on the ballot.

Delegate

A person selected to represent their state at a party's national convention.

Early Voting

A period before Election Day during which voters can cast their ballots in person.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the president. A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing legislative district boundaries to favor one political party.

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