Editor's note: This guide was updated on Feb 12, 2020.
The 2020 primary voting season officially kicked off in February with the Iowa caucuses. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s presidential election.
The Story
2020 is a presidential election year. And there’s no such thing as being too prepared.
The Kickoff
The Iowa caucuses kick off the 2020 election. That’s because the Hawkeye State is the first to vote in the primary season. Here’s everything you need to know about the Iowa caucuses (including what exactly a caucus is), and why it can make or break a candidate’s chance at becoming president.
It's pretty standard for voters in Iowa to get the first chance to decide the next presidential nominees. Skimm Notes explains why that is. You'll learn:
How the voting calendar got this way
Why some 2020 candidates want that to change
Why reforming the system would be a challenge
The Voting
You have a date with the polls soon. Here are some of this year’s biggest primaries and caucuses:
Saturday, February 22: Nevada Democratic caucus
Saturday, February 29: South Carolina Democratic primary
March 3: Super Tuesday
March 17: Primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio; Northern Marianas Republican convention
April 28: Primaries in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island
Every vote counts. Lucky for you, we made it really easy to check if you’re registered to vote. Do it here.
The GOP Candidates
There are two. We’ll give you zero guesses about who the first one is.
The Dem Candidates
Dems want the White House back. Before taking on Trump for the throne, they’ll have to fight it out among each other. Meet your candidates.
The Debates
Battle time. No it's not an episode of “The Bachelor,” but it might be just as dramatic. Here's what you need to know…
Wednesday, February 19: Ninth Democratic debate
Tuesday, February 25: Tenth Democratic debate
The Issues
Candidates are dropping their policies on everything from health care to foreign policy to climate change. We Skimm’d where they stand on…
The Security
Long presidential campaigns and inconsistent voting technology make it tough to safeguard America’s elections. And with so much at stake in the 2020 vote, these vulnerabilities are keeping a lot of people up at night. Here’s your Skimm Notes on election security. You’ll learn:
What sets America’s elections apart
Why it’s so difficult to stop the spread of misinformation
How states are getting ready for 2020
theSkimm
Trump's base loves their man and he's considered a lock for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, the field of Democratic candidates is still very full and includes both VIP names and people with no political experience. Trump’s 2016 win proved that even the most unlikely and less experienced political contenders have a shot.
Live Smarter
Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.