In what month does the official election of the president occur?

The official election of the president occurs in November. This timing is established by federal law. Specifically, the election happens on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, a practice that has been in place since 1845. This scheduling allows for people to travel to polling places without conflicting with harvest seasons and ensures that elections do not fall on the first day of the month, which may be affected by monthly obligations such as payments or religious observances.

While some confusion may arise about the transition periods in subsequent months—for example, the electoral college meets in December to formally cast votes for the president and vice president, and the newly elected president is inaugurated in January—the initial election day itself is firmly set in November. Hence, it is important to recognize that while several events are closely related to the election process, the actual voting day for the public occurs in November.