Super Tuesday Definition - Date and States That Vote

Super Tuesday is the day on which a large number of states, many of them in the South,  hold their primaries in the presidential race. Super Tuesday is important because a large number of delegates are at stake and the outcome of the primaries can elevate or end a candidates chances at winning their partys presidential nomination later in the spring.   Super Tuesday 2016 was  held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton emerged with the most number of delegates on Super Tuesday 2016, thrusting both toward their eventual nominations at that years conventions in Cleveland, Ohio, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Twelves states  hold primaries or caucuses on Super Tuesday. Voters in those states  go to the polls about one month after the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus are held.   Super Tuesday 2016 was  the first presidential primary day under Republican National Committee rules designed to give states that vote later in the year more influence in the nomination process and at the GOP convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer. Why Super Tuesday  Is a Big Deal The votes that are cast on Super Tuesday  determine how many delegates are sent to the Republican and Democratic national conventions to represent their respective candidates for the presidential nominations. More than a quarter of the Republican Partys delegates are typically  up for grabs on Super Tuesday, including in the top prize of 155 delegates in Texas. More than a fifth of the Democratic Partys delegates are up for grabs that day. In other words, more than 600 of the 2,472 total Republican delegates to the partys national convention are awarded on Super Tuesday. Thats half the amount necessary for the nomination - 1,237 - up for grabs in a single day. In the Democratic primaries and caucuses,  more than  1,00 of the 4,764 Democratic delegates to the  partys national convention in Philadelphia  are at stake on Super Tuesday. Thats nearly half of the 2,383 needed for the nomination. Super Tuesday Origins Super Tuesday originated as an attempt by southern states to win greater influence in the Democratic primaries. The first Super Tuesday was held in March 1988.   Super Tuesday 2016 Delegate Rules Under the Republican Partys new rules, states that hold their primaries and caucuses on March 1 through March 14  awarded delegates on a proportional basis instead of winner-take-all. That means no candidate can likely win enough delegates to secure the nomination before late-voting states get to hold their primaries. The rule is designed to prevent states from  trying to leapfrog each other for influence and attention during the primaries. List of States Voting on Super Tuesday The number of states holding primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday 2016 was  larger than in the previous presidential-election year, in 2012. Only ten states held primaries or caucuses on Super Tuesday in 2012.   Here are the states that hold primaries or caucuses on Super Tuesday, followed by the number of delegates being awarded to the party conventions: Alabama: 50 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 60 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryAlaska: 28 delegates at stake in the Republican caucuses (the 20 delegates at stake in the Democratic caucuses are awarded on March 26, not on Super Tuesday)Arkansas: 40 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 37 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryColorado: 37 delegates at stake in the Republican caucuses, 79 delegates at stake in the Democratic caucusesGeorgia: 76 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 116 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryMassachusetts: 42 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 116 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryMinnesota: 38 delegates at stake in the Republican caucuses, 93 delegates at stake in the Democratic caucusesOklahoma: 43 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 42 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryTennessee: 58 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 76 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryTexas: 155 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 252 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryVermont: 16 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 26 delegates at stake in the Democratic primaryVirginia: 49 delegates at stake in the Republican primary, 110 delegates at stake in the Democratic primary