Understanding the Electoral College: The Key to Winning the Presidency
The Electoral College is a fundamental aspect of the American electoral system, determining who becomes president. In the U.S., the president is not elected by popular vote but rather through a group of 538 electors. To secure the presidency, a candidate must achieve a minimum of 270 electoral votes, often referred to as the magic number. This system, while designed to balance political power among states, has sparked debate about its fairness and relevance in modern democracy.
How the Electoral College Works
Each state is allocated a number of electors based on its representation in Congress, which includes both senators and House members. For example, Michigan has 15 electoral votes. Most states employ a winner-take-all approach, where the candidate receiving the most votes in that state claims all its electors. Exceptions to this rule are Maine and Nebraska, which use a proportional distribution method.
The Electoral College's electors cast their votes in December after the general election, and Congress certifies these votes in January. This process underscores the notion that a candidate can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote, as seen in the 2016 election where Hillary Clinton won more total votes but lost to Donald Trump due to the distribution of electoral votes.
