How many delegates are needed to win the nomination? Super Tuesday elections explained

It's Super Tuesday, and the 2024 primary elections and caucuses are in full swing, with voters across 15 states and one U.S. territory heading to the polls to select their preferred presidential candidate.

However, voters might be unaware that their ballots do not directly elect the president. Thanks to the Electoral College system, voters are selecting statewide delegates, who will cast their vote for president on behalf of their state's residents. In the span of one day on Super Tuesday, over a third of the delegates in the presidential race will be awarded to various candidates.

So, how exactly does the delegate system work in U.S. elections?

More: Super Tuesday live results: Donald Trump notches wins in Virginia and North Carolina

How many delegates are at stake in the 2024 election?

The number of delegates awarded to presidential candidates varies by party and election year. Democrats have 3,934 delegates in this election, meaning the winning candidate must receive at least 1,968 to have a majority. Republicans have a total of 2,429 delegates this year, and the nominee will need to garner a total of 1,215 delegates to be proclaimed the winner. On Super Tuesday, 1,420 Democratic and 865 Republican delegates will be awarded.

Are there different kinds of delegates?

Not all delegates are created equal, and the precise definitions can vary; however, delegates generally fall into two camps. Democratic delegates are referred to as "pledged" and "unpledged," while Republicans refer to them as "bound" and "unbound."

Pledged and bound delegates are required to cast their vote for the winning candidate in their state. They can represent individual districts within the state, or represent the state at large. The Democratic party also has another type of pledged delegate, called party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs).

In contrast, unpledged and unbound delegates generally high-profile political figures such as governors, members of the U.S. Congress and former presidents — are allowed to cast their ballot for any candidate, regardless of the election results.

How are delegates allocated?

For Democratic candidates, delegates are awarded proportionally for all candidates who win at least 15% of the vote. At-large and other delegates are awarded proportionally based on the statewide vote, and district delegates are awarded proportionally based on the district-wide vote.

The Republican Party gives individual states more leeway to determine how delegates are awarded, and as a result, Republican primaries use a variety of different methods. In some states, the delegates are awarded proportionally, but others use a winner-takes-all system, while some states use a hybrid method. States can also let their voters elect delegates directly.

How many delegates has Biden been awarded?

As of 11:59 p.m Eastern., President Joe Biden is leading the Democratic primary with 593 delegates. He must win an additional 1,375 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination. Neither of Biden's main primary challengers — Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson — have won any delegates.

How many delegates has Trump been awarded?

As of 11:59 p.m., former President Donald Trump is solidly in the lead, having been awarded 551 delegates. He'll need another 664 delegates to win the Republican nomination. Nikki Haley, his primary opponent, has won 52 delegates. Two Republican candidates who dropped out of the race, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, received nine and three delegates, respectively.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Super Tuesday: Primary elections and delegates explained