The electoral College
The Electoral College is a unique American institution, created by the Constitution, providing for selection of the president by electors. Although the Electoral College vote usually reflects a popular majority, less populated states are over represented and the winner-take-all rule concentrates campaigns on close states. It is the institution that directly elects the President and Vice President of the United States. So on election day, the president is trying to win 50 small elections, rather than one big one.
the basics of the electoral college
- Each state is given a number of "electors" which is equal to the amount of representatives in Congress of the state.
- Electors are pledged to specific president and vice president candidates.
- When a state wins the majority popular vote of a candidate, all of the electors votes of the winners party, count towards a total.
- A candidate wins an election, based on the amount of total electoral votes.