How the U.S. Electoral College Decides the President: Explained

In the United States, presidential elections utilize a unique procedure known as the Electoral College. In many places around the world, citizens directly choose their leader through a popular vote, but in the U.S. system, there is a cocktail of voting at a state level, involving electors, for the winner to be determined. When a presidential election takes place, each state is assigned a certain number of electoral votes that correspond to their overall population and overall representation in Congress. 

When a citizen votes for president, they are voting for electors who will then cast their vote on their behalf when electing the president. The Electoral College captures a metalism between popular representation while simultaneously giving a voice to smaller states in presidential elections. Understanding the way the Electoral College itself works is an important factor in understanding U.S. politics as well as several discussion points around the outcome of the presidential election.

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What is the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is a process for electing the U.S. president and vice president, not a location. It is made up of 538 electors from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state has the same number of electors as it does members of Congress (Senators + Representatives). 

When an election occurs, voters are technically voting for a slate of electors who are committed to voting in favor of a certain candidate; they aren't selecting the president themselves. For most states, any candidate who gets the majority of votes in that state receives all of the state’s electoral votes; this is the typical "winner-takes-all" method; Maine and Nebraska separate their votes.

 To win the presidency, a candidate must reach 270 electoral votes, ultimately making the states considered more strategically important, or "swing states," critical in the presidential election.

How the Electoral College Works?

When Americans cast their ballots for their presidential choice, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to that candidate. After the tallies from the popular vote in each state are compiled, electors will meet in December to cast their votes for president and vice president. 

The votes are then submitted to Congress, where they are certified in January, creating a system that allows smaller population states to participate in the election process, equalizing the power of larger states in the process of electing a president. 

The winner-take-all electoral vote system, used in most states, conveys that if a candidate wins the popular vote by a slim margin, the candidate receives all of the electoral votes for that state. In this manner, it is possible for a candidate to become president without winning the national popular vote, and it often raises questions about fairness and equal representation in the election process.

Importance of the Electoral College

The Electoral College serves an important function in preserving federalism within the U.S. election system. By providing a relatively larger voice to smaller states, it discourages presidential candidates from focusing solely on more populous states. It can facilitate campaigning across the country and be more inclusive of the regions and populations of the United States. 

That said, it has often been criticized for producing results by which someone who wins the popular vote may not go on to be president, as was the case in the elections in 2000 and 2016. It is important for voters, students, and anyone wanting to understand U.S. politics to be aware of this process. 

The process reflects the often complicated nature of American democracy and why all states, no matter their populations, have significant restrictions on the leadership exercised over the U.S.

Conclusion

The U.S. Electoral College system is unique and at times controversial, and it serves to combine state representation with popular selection. It can, however, yield surprising election results because it assures that each state, large or small, has a role in the selection of the president. As we will see, knowing the Electoral College helps citizens and students alike understand the various complications of American democracy.