Electoral College

Electoral College

The Electoral College is a mechanism established by the United States Constitution for the indirect election of the President and Vice President. Citizens of the United States vote in each state at a general election to choose a slate of "electors" pledged to vote for a particular party's candidate. The electors then directly vote for the President and Vice President.

History

The Electoral College was established in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention as a compromise between election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote. The framers of the Constitution debated various methods of electing the President, and the Electoral College was designed to balance the influence of populous states with less populous ones.

Structure and Function

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the sum of its Senators and Representatives in Congress. The Twenty-third Amendment grants the District of Columbia three electors.

Selection of Electors

Electors are typically chosen by political parties in each state, and the process varies from state to state. In most states, the electors are pledged to vote for the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state.

Voting Process

The electors meet in their respective state capitals in December, following the general election, to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The results are certified and sent to the President of the Senate, who announces the results to a joint session of Congress in January.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Electoral College has been the subject of criticism and debate. Critics argue that it can result in a President being elected without winning the popular vote, as occurred in the elections of 2000 and 2016. Proponents argue that it protects the interests of smaller states and prevents urban areas from dominating elections.

Reform Proposals

Various proposals have been made to reform or abolish the Electoral College. These include the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which seeks to ensure the presidency goes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes nationwide, and constitutional amendments to establish direct popular elections.

See Also

• United States presidential election
• National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
• Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution

References

• "The Federalist Papers: No. 68" by Alexander Hamilton
• "The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections" by the Congressional Research Service