Who ultimately chooses the winner of a presidential election in the United States
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1 point
The House of Representatives
The Senate
the popular vote
the Electoral College
The Electoral College ultimately chooses the winner of a presidential election in the United States.
The ultimate choice of the winner of a presidential election in the United States is made by the Electoral College.
The winner of a presidential election in the United States is ultimately chosen by the Electoral College. Here's how it works:
1. Popular Vote: On Election Day, citizens across the country cast their vote for their preferred presidential candidate. This is known as the popular vote.
2. Electoral College: The United States is divided into 50 states and each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its population. The total number of electoral votes is 538, which is equal to the sum of 435 representatives, 100 senators, and 3 electors from Washington, D.C.
3. Electoral Votes: The Electoral College is made up of electors who are chosen by political parties in each state. These electors cast their votes based on the popular vote in their respective states. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all of its electoral votes.
4. Electoral Vote Count: To win the presidency, a candidate must secure at least 270 out of the 538 electoral votes.
5. Final Decision: In December, the electors gather in their respective states to formally cast their votes. Then, on January 6th following the election, the Electoral College votes are counted in a joint session of Congress.
6. Certification: Once the Electoral College's votes are counted by Congress, the candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270 or more) is officially declared the winner of the presidential election.
It is important to note that while the popular vote does not directly determine the winner, it usually influences the outcome of the Electoral College vote.