As the country ramps up for the 2020 general election, many Americans are wondering about the Electoral College, the process by which the president is officially selected.
The Electoral College has a long-standing history in the country, instated into the Constitution by the Founding Fathers.
And while voters cast their ballots in the general election every four years, some are not fully clear on the intricate process and the dynamics between the popular vote and the Electoral College.
Find information about the Electoral College and how it works below.
How does the Electoral College elect the president?
The Electoral College elects the president using electors in states around the country.
When Americans cast their ballots on Election Day, their vote goes to a statewide tally. In 48 states, the candidate who receives the most votes gets all the electoral votes, according to USA.gov. In Maine and Nebraska, electors are assigned using a proportional system.
How many electors are there?
According to the National Archives website, the Electoral College consists of 538 electors. Of these, 270 electoral votes are required to elect the next president.
The breakdown of electors in each state corresponds to the number of each state’s congressional delegates — or, the number of House representatives, and two senators.
What’s the importance of voting? Do electors have to vote according to the popular vote?
When you vote in a general election, you are actually voting for your candidate’s preferred electors.
Electors are chosen by presidential candidates’ political parties in each state, with the process for these selections and how electors must vote varying state-to-state.
While the Constitution doesn’t require electors to vote according to the popular vote, many states require this by law.
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