Election is the process by which citizens select their representatives and hold them accountable for their actions. Elections may occur at the local, city, state or national level. They may be held on a single occasion or over a period of time. They may be a public referendum on a specific issue or a private election for a particular office. They are a key element of democracy and ensure that those who govern represent the interests of all citizens.
Depending on the level of government concerned, elections may be nonpartisan or partisan. In partisan systems voters choose political parties rather than individual candidates. These are called primary elections or caucuses. Non-partisan systems allow candidates to be nominated by anyone who is eligible to vote. They are used in the selection of popes and Holy Roman emperors.
In the United States, elections are held to elect the president and vice president, members of Congress, governors and the mayors of cities and towns. Various offices at the state level are also elected, including legislators and the governors of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. State constitutions and laws regulate the details of these elections.
In general, elections are held in even-numbered years for federal offices. State and local elections are at the discretion of the local governments and may coincide with presidential or midterm elections. In some countries there are electoral systems that combine elements of proportional and majoritarian methods of voting.