North American Politics Questions
The electoral college is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. It consists of a total of 538 electors, who are chosen by each state and the District of Columbia. The number of electors for each state is determined by its representation in Congress, with each state having a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives.
During a presidential election, voters cast their ballots for a specific candidate, but they are actually voting for a slate of electors who have pledged to support that candidate. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state typically receives all of that state's electoral votes, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, which allocate their electoral votes proportionally.
The candidate who receives a majority of the electoral votes (270 out of 538) becomes the President. If no candidate reaches the majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President from the top three candidates, with each state delegation having one vote. The Vice President is chosen by the Senate from the top two candidates.
The electoral college system has been subject to criticism, as it is possible for a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote. This has led to calls for electoral college reform or its abolition in favor of a direct popular vote system.