The Electoral College in the United States is a system unique in that it plays a vital role in determining presidential election results.
Understanding the process of the 2020 elections is important now more than ever.
In order to win, a candidate must receive 270 of the 538 electoral vote. This requirement has been a source of debates and controversy throughout American history.
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Election of President and Vice-President indirectly
The Electoral College, established in the Constitution allows voters to elect indirectly the President and Vice-President.
The number of electors in each state is determined by the proportion of its population that represents it both in the House of Representatives as well as the Senate.
Smaller states, such as Wyoming, Delaware and Vermont, each possess three electoral votes while large states, like California, have 54.
The allocation is based on population changes and updated every decennial count. Recent changes have affected the number of Electoral Votes for some states.
US Election explained: What is the electoral college? It is important to understand that the American President, not US citizens directly but 538 state electors are elected.
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Voting in November is a way for citizens to vote for an elector slate that has been pledged by a candidate.
The majority of states have a “winner-takes-all” system. This means that the candidate that wins the most votes in a state gets all its electoral vote.
Maine and Nebraska, however, use a system of proportional representation, which awards electoral votes according to the results in congressional districts.
After the elections, voters meet in state capitals and cast their votes officially for President and Vice-President.
The meeting will take place mid-December, i.e. on the Tuesday following the second Wednesday.
There is no law that requires electors to follow their party pledge. This leads to the rarity of “faithless voters.”
If there is a tie in the Electoral College or if none of the candidates has a majority of votes, then the new House of Representatives decides the outcome of the election, each delegation of states casting one vote.
It could be that a candidate from a third party wins the electoral vote or that multiple voters break their promises.
Last time there was a contingent vote was 1824, when John Quincy Adams won the election despite Andrew Jackson receiving more votes.
The Electoral College has its own controversy
Despite being around for a long time, the Electoral College has not been without controversy.
Donald Trump, the most recent US President to win the presidency without the popular vote in 2016, is one of five.
The Electoral College has been questioned for its fairness, and a Pew Research survey from 2023 revealed that 65% prefer to elect the President through a democratic vote.
Although many reforms or abrogations of the Electoral College have been proposed, it is a difficult process to change this aspect fundamental of American government.
The two-thirds vote in each house of Congress is required, as well as ratification from three-quarters of all states.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a notable alternative. This initiative aims to guarantee that the winner of the popular vote receives the entire number of electoral votes in all participating states. However, this initiative can only be implemented if sufficient states sign up.
The Electoral College was established by the Founding Fathers as a compromise to direct election of presidents and selections made by Congress.
It is argued by supporters that this helps to prevent candidates from only focusing on urban areas. This ensures that states with less population have a say in the electoral process.
Understanding the Electoral College in the run-up to the presidential elections of 2024 is crucial for all voters.
The system is complex and reflects the history of American democracy as well as the debate that continues about the representation in the electoral processes.
The Electoral College in 10 facts:
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Electoral College Overview: To win the election of the U.S. President and Vice-President, a candidate must receive 270 votes out 538.
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The indirect election is conducted by electors who are pledged candidates and vote for them in the first round of voting. They then cast their official votes for President at mid-December.
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State allocation of electors: Each state has electors based on its congressional representation–smaller states have three electoral votes, while larger states like California have significantly more.
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The winner-takes-all method is used in most states. This means that the candidate who receives the largest number of votes in a state will get all the electoral votes in the same state. Maine and Nebraska use a different system.
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Scenarios of an electoral tie: If there is a tie, or if no winner can be determined, then the House of Representatives will decide the result, and each delegation of states will cast one vote.
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Context: Donald Trump, who won in 2016 without receiving a majority of the vote by the electorate, is the most recent example. This has led to debates over the fairness of the Electoral College.
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Reforms: Although many Americans prefer electing presidents through a vote of the people, changing the Electoral College would require a Constitutional Amendment, which can be a lengthy process.
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Public sentiment in 2023: According to a Pew Research survey, 65% of Americans preferred a system based on popular votes over the current Electoral College.
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Contingent Elections: These two elections were held in 1824, and 1837 respectively. This highlights the rarity and complexity of this system.
- Founding Principles: The Electoral College is a compromise that was made by the founding fathers in order to ensure a broader consideration of electoral issues.
The post Understanding the Electoral College – How the US elects it president will be updated as new information becomes available.
