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The Electoral College is a process used in the United States to elect the president and vice president. It involves electors who cast votes on behalf of their states. This system was established by the Constitution and has been used in every presidential election since 1789.
How the Electoral College Is Structured
The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. Each state has a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress. The District of Columbia also has three electors, bringing the total to 538.
How Electors Are Chosen
Political parties in each state select slates of electors before the general election. When voters cast their ballots for a presidential candidate, they are actually voting for their party’s electors. The winning slate of electors then cast their votes in December.
The Voting Process
On Election Day, voters in each state choose among the presidential candidates. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of that state’s electoral votes, except in Maine and Nebraska, which allocate votes proportionally.
Electoral Vote Counting
In December, electors meet in their respective states to cast their votes. These votes are then sent to Congress, where they are counted in a joint session held in January. The candidate with at least 270 electoral votes wins the presidency.