explainer
In the United States, presidential elections are determined by a state-by-state vote allocation system. Here’s what you need to know:
It’s at the core of how U.S. presidential elections are decided. But for many, the Electoral College is an enigma, shrouded in mystery.
However, there is no need to be confused.
To understand the electoral system, you first need to know that the president of the United States is not elected by the national popular vote, or the total number of votes each candidate receives.
Instead, a group of 538 so-called “electors” choose the president. These electors make up the Electoral College.
So who are these electors?
Before an election, political parties in each state choose electors, the real people who will ultimately vote for president. Very often, electors are party officials or supporters.
Each state receives the same number of electors as members of the U.S. House and Senate.
For example, Michigan receives 15 Electoral College votes. This equates to two senators and 13 representatives representing the state in Congress.
Now that we know who these electors are and how many electors represent each state, how are their votes allocated? Now comes the fun part.
In almost every state in the United States, the presidential candidate who receives the most votes wins all electors in that state, a winner-take-all system. Even if a candidate wins a state by a narrow margin, they still win all the electors.
Outliers are Maine and Nebraska, which allocate electors based on more complex systems that reflect popular votes at the state and congressional district levels.
The District of Columbia (which is not a state but includes the nation’s capital) also receives three Electoral College votes.
But here’s the most important part. To win the White House, a presidential candidate must win the support of a majority of the electorate.
That means they need at least 270 votes out of a total of 538 votes in the Electoral College to win.
Electors finally cast their votes in December, about a month after the election.
Their votes are then certified by Congress in early January, and the president is confirmed and sworn into office.
So what does this mean?
Effectively, to win the U.S. presidency, a candidate must win support in enough key states to reach the magical 270 electoral votes.
Under this system, there is no guarantee that the candidate who receives the most popular votes, or the most votes nationwide, will actually win the White House.
A recent example is in 2016, when Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost to Republican Donald Trump. His victory was boosted by wins in states like Florida and Pennsylvania, where he could win at least 20 electoral votes.
The electoral system was effectively designed to secure political power for the states.
Some Americans argue that the electoral college system should be abolished in favor of the popular vote. Some argue that this system prevents populous states from overshadowing smaller states, thereby encouraging minority representation in American democracy.
