What is the electoral college?
The electoral college is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. It consists of a total of 538 electors, who are chosen by each state and the District of Columbia based on their representation in Congress. The number of electors for each state is determined by the number of senators and representatives it has in Congress.
During a presidential election, voters in each state cast their ballots for a slate of electors who are pledged to support a particular presidential candidate. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state typically receives all of that state's electoral votes (with the exceptions of Nebraska and Maine, which allocate their electoral votes proportionally).
The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) is elected as the President. In the event of a tie or if no candidate obtains a majority, the election is decided by the House of Representatives choosing from the top three candidates.
Critics argue that the electoral college can lead to situations where a candidate wins the popular vote but loses the election, as was the case in the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections. However, proponents of the electoral college system argue that it ensures that all states have representation and prevents highly populated areas from having undue influence in the election.