<human>:  How does the US election process work?
<bot>: The US election process begins with a series of primary and caucus elections and assemblies held by the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. During these contests, each party chooses its candidate for the general election. Primaries are state-level elections in which registered voters from a certain political party cast a secret ballot for their party's presidential nominee. On the day of the general election, registered voters cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of each party. The candidate that receives the majority of electoral votes (at least 270) is declared the President-elect of the United States.