Does the popular vote or the Electoral College decide the outcome of the presidential election?

When citizens cast their ballots for president in the popular vote, they elect a slate of electors. Electors then cast the votes that decide who becomes president of the United States. Usually, electoral votes align with the popular vote in an election.

Why is the electoral college an indirect election of the president?

The Electoral College is a method of indirect popular election of the President of the United States. Instead of voting for a specific candidate, voters in an indirect popular election select a panel of individuals pledged to vote for a specific candidate. These electors, in turn, vote for the presidential candidate.

Does it take a popular majority to win the presidency?

While it does not take a popular majority to win the presidency, in fact it can be won by a small minority of votes. The way the Electoral College works today is that if a candidate wins a state by even a single vote they win all of that state’s electors.

What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

The Electoral College is a system where citizens indirectly elect the president and vice president through a body of 538 electors. What are electors? Electors are people chosen by their state parties prior to the general election who cast their vote for president on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December.

How many electoral votes does it take to win the presidency?

To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a minimum of 270 electoral votes. What does “winner takes all” mean with electoral votes? “Winner takes all” is implemented in all but two states: Nebraska and Maine.

Should the Electoral College be replaced?

The Electoral College has played an outsize role in several elections in recent memory, and a majority of Americans would welcome a change to the way presidents are elected.