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The Electoral College: How America Chooses Its President!

Imagine a special team picking the president instead of everyone voting directly! That's the Electoral College!

Images

Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon

Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon

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Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Sen. John Warner / Elizabeth Taylor
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon
Carly Fiorina at CPAC 2017 February 24th, 2017 by Michael Vadon

Key Facts

System Type
An indirect election system for the U.S. President and Vice President.
Origin Year
Established in 1787 by the U.S. Constitution.
Number of Electors
Currently 538 electors in total.
Winning Requirement
A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Meet the Electoral College Team!

The Electoral College is like a special group of people who officially choose the President and Vice President of the United States. It's not a place, but a process! When you vote for president, you're actually voting for these electors. These electors then cast the official votes. It's a bit like a relay race where the voters pass the baton to the electors!

Where Did This Idea Come From?

This idea started a long, long time ago, back when the United States was just forming. The people who wrote the rules for the country, called the Founding Fathers, weren't sure if everyone should vote directly for the president. They worried that people might not know enough about all the candidates.

So, they created the Electoral College as a compromise, a way to balance different ideas about how to pick the leader.

Why Does It Matter to Us?

The Electoral College is super important because it's the system that decides who becomes president! Sometimes, the person who gets the most individual votes from people across the country doesn't win the presidency. This happens because the Electoral College counts votes state by state. It's a big deal because the president makes decisions that affect everyone, like laws about schools and parks!

How Does the Electoral College Work?

Each state gets a certain number of electors. This number is based on how many people live in that state. More people means more electors! When you vote, your vote helps your state's electors decide who to support. In most states, if a candidate wins the popular vote in that state, they get all of that state's electoral votes. It's like winning all the points in a game!

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