What is the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is a key component of the United States' presidential election process. It is a group formed by electors from each state, who are selected based on the popular vote within their respective states to represent the electorate in the election of the President and Vice President. When citizens cast their votes during the presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to support their chosen candidate.

This system was established in the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article II, and it reflects a compromise between electing the President by a vote in Congress and by popular vote. Each state has a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress, contributing to a total of 538 electors nationwide. A candidate needs a majority of these electoral votes, which is at least 270, to win the presidency.

Understanding the role of the Electoral College is crucial for grasping how presidential elections are conducted in the United States, as this mechanism ultimately determines the outcome of the election rather than a straightforward national popular vote.