The Electoral College is at the heart of how presidential elections are decided in the US. Instead of being elected by the national popular vote, US presidents are chosen by 538 electors who make up the Electoral College. Each state gets a number of electors equal to its representation in Congress, with most states following a winner-takes-all system where the candidate with the most votes in the state receives all of its electors.
Maine and Nebraska have more complex systems for allocating electors based on popular vote at different levels. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure at least 270 Electoral College votes. This system can lead to scenarios where a candidate wins the popular vote but loses the election, as seen in 2016 when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump despite receiving more total votes.
Critics of the Electoral College argue that it should be replaced by a popular vote system to ensure that the candidate with the most votes nationwide wins the presidency. However, supporters believe that the current system protects smaller states from being overshadowed by more populous ones, ensuring minority representation in US democracy.
Ultimately, the Electoral College plays a crucial role in determining the US presidency by requiring candidates to secure key states in order to reach the magic number of 270 votes. The electors cast their votes in December, which are then certified by Congress in January to confirm the incoming president.
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