United States Electoral College

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New York electoral college casting vote for Harrison - DPLA - c4d90aa3c45b2c8142c6c52235bf2645 (cropped)

2020 presidential election US electoral college certificates

Oregon Electors 2012

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US 2020 Census State Population Per Electoral Vote

United States Electoral College

The United States Electoral College is a body established by the United States Constitution that elects the President of the United States and the Vice President of the United States every four years. The Electoral College system was devised by the Founding Fathers as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.

Composition and Function

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Each state's entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two for its Senators. The District of Columbia is allocated three electors and treated like a state for purposes of the Electoral College under the terms of the Twenty-third Amendment.

Electors are selected by the states in a manner each state legislature determines. Typically, political parties nominate electors at their state conventions or by a vote of the party's central committee in each state. Electors are often, but not always, elected officials or party leaders.

On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors meet in their respective states to cast their votes for President and Vice President. These votes are then sealed and sent to the President of the Senate, who on January 6, opens and reads them before both houses of the Congress.

Criticism and Support

The Electoral College has been the subject of criticism and support over the years. Critics argue that the system can result in the election of a candidate who does not win the popular vote, as happened in the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. Supporters argue that it protects the interests of smaller states and is a foundational element of American federalism.

Reform Proposals

Various reform proposals have been suggested, including the direct election of the President by popular vote or the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which seeks to ensure the candidate who wins the most popular votes is elected President, without abolishing the Electoral College.

Conclusion

The United States Electoral College is a unique system for electing the President and Vice President, reflecting the federal structure of the country and the desire of the Founding Fathers to balance the interests of high-population and low-population states. It remains a subject of debate and discussion in American politics.