Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are chosen through direct elections by eligible voters in each congressional district. Each state is divided into single-member districts based on population, with each district electing one representative
. Key points about how members are chosen:
- Eligibility: Candidates must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and be a resident of the state they wish to represent
- Elections: House elections occur every two years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. All 435 seats are up for election at the same time
- Primary Elections: Major parties typically select their candidates through partisan primary elections held in spring or summer. Minor party and independent candidates may have different state-specific requirements to get on the ballot
- Voting System: Most states use a first-past-the-post (plurality) voting system, where the candidate with the highest number of votes wins, even if it is not an absolute majority. Exceptions include Alaska and Maine, which use ranked-choice voting, and Georgia and Louisiana, which use a two-round system
- Representation: The number of representatives per state is proportional to its population as determined by the decennial census. This ensures representation is aligned with population shifts
- Term Length: Representatives serve two-year terms with no term limits and can be re-elected indefinitely
In summary, members of the House of Representatives are elected by voters in their respective congressional districts through regular elections held every two years, primarily using a plurality voting system, with candidate nomination processes varying by state
