Super Tuesday: Biggest day yet in US election as 15 states choose candidates

Super Tuesday is the day in the presidential primary cycle when the most states vote.

It’s a tradition that has developed over the last few decades as states have shifted their Republican and Democratic primaries around the calendar in order to increase their clout in the candidate selection process.

It’s a movable feast – the exact number varies each year – but this year, Super Tuesday includes 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Alaska (Republicans only).

One territory, American Samoa, will vote as well. We will also find out the results of the Democratic caucuses in Iowa, which has been held by mail over several weeks.

Iowa’s Republicans held their caucuses in mid-January and the results were released that same night.

By the time Super Tuesday is over, more than one-third of Republican delegates will be allocated.