2020: the timeline to the US presidential election

We are about a year out from the next US president, but here's what happens between now and then

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November 3 2019: One year to go until the 2020 presidential election

February 3, 2020: Iowa caucuses kick starts party members choosing their candidate to battle it out in 2020. The results in Iowa will narrow down the crowded Democratic field to a handful of prime hopefuls.

March 3, 2020: Known as Super Tuesday, around 40 per cent of the total delegates are allotted on a single day with 18 states and territories voting. The results from March 3 more or less decide who is going to get the nomination. But, there are still three more months of votes if the decision isn't clear after Super Tuesday.

March 10, 2020: Another batch of primaries are held but the vote in Michigan is seen as a true test of the candidates' popularity in suburban, African-American and white working-class areas. While the vote here won't necessarily make or break a candidate, it's a good test of broader popularity and if Super Tuesday doesn't decide the winner this could narrow it down further.

July 13-16, 2020: Democratic National convention will be held in Milwaukee where officials formally announce their candidate for the 2020 presidential election.

August 24-27, 2020: Republican National Convention is the grand old party's turn to crown their candidate, but we already know that barring some kind of disaster or major surprise, it will be incumbent Donald Trump.

August-November 2020: With the two candidates decided, the real election campaign can start – remember everything up unto this point has technically been picking who will run, not that it looks much like that from the outside.

September 29, 2020: The first of three presidential debate will take place at Notre Dame University in Indiana where the now-crowned Democratic candidate will face off with (most likely) Mr Trump. It's the first time we'll see the two candidates directly go head-to-head.

October 22, 2020: The third and final presidential head-to-head televised debate will be held in Belmont University, Tennessee.

November 3, 2020: Presidential elections take place

Mid-December, 2020: Electoral Collage delegates meet at state capitals to formally vote for the president and vice president.

January 20, 2021: The new president of the United States is inaugurated.