BACKGROUND: US presidential election schedule

Feb 1, 2012, 4:22 GMT

Washington - The conservative Republican Party is holding primary elections and caucus votes to decide its presidential candidate.

The winner will be formally nominated in August to face US President Barack Obama, who is unopposed for renomination by his left-leaning Democratic Party, in the November 6 general elections.

The Florida primary, which took place Tuesday, is followed by contests in other states through June, followed by the party conventions.

Saturday: Nevada, Maine.

February 7: Colorado, Minnesota.

February 28: Arizona, Michigan.

March 3: Washington state.

March 6: 'Super Tuesday,' with primaries in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.

March 10: Kansas.

March 13: Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi.

March 17: Missouri.

March 20: Illinois.

March 24: Louisiana.

April 3: Washington (District of Columbia), Maryland, Texas, Wisconsin.

April 24: Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island.

May 8: Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia.

May 15: Nebraska, Oregon.

May 22: Arkansas, Kentucky.

June 5: California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota.

June 26: Utah.

August 27-30: Republican Party presidential nominating convention in Tampa, Florida.

September 3-6: Democratic Party presidential nominating convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

October 3: First of three televised debates between Republican nominee and President Barack Obama.

November 6: Presidential and congressional elections.

January 20, 2013: Presidential inauguration.