Nothing about picking a president in America has ever been as simple as one person, one vote.

From the complexities of the electoral college to voter suppression campaigns to deals cut in the smoke-filled rooms of the 1900s, the reality of American politics has long made electing the president a more complicated process than just adding up who got the most votes.

Always a divided nation, the U.S. is especially polarized as the 2024 presidential campaign unfolds. The nation is awash in misinformation and distrust – so much so that millions believe the lie that the last presidential election was stolen. There are fresh threats to voting rights and the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that influenced the race before most voters had their say.

As Americans return to the ballot in 2024, The Associated Press explores all that goes into picking a president in our very complicated democracy – and how it can still work.