The Electoral College is a process, not a place, that is used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. It was established by the Founding Fathers as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and the election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The process consists of three main steps:
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Selection of Electors: Each state, including the District of Columbia, is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of representatives and senators in Congress. These electors are typically chosen by the political parties and are often loyal party members or individuals with a strong affiliation to the candidate they represent.
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Meeting of Electors: The electors meet in their respective states, usually in December after the general election, to cast their votes for President and Vice President. In most states, the electors are required by law to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state. After casting their votes, the electors sign "Certificates of Vote" to make their results official.
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Counting of Electoral Votes by Congress: On January 6th, following the meeting of the electors, the President of the Senate (the Vice President of the United States) opens the Certificates of Vote and counts the electoral votes in a joint session of Congress. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. If no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President from the top three candidates, with each state delegation having one vote.
The Electoral College has been a subject of debate, as it is possible for a candidate to win the Electoral College and lose the popular vote. This has happened five times in U.S. history, including in the 2016 and 2000 elections. Some reformers argue that the presidency should be decided by the national popular vote to ensure that every voters voice is equally represented.
