Electing a US President in Plain English

Summary

The U.S. presidential election is a complex process where citizens' votes determine the president. Instead of a simple popular vote, the election relies on an electoral system where states allocate their electors based on population. Each state's influence is measured by its electors, calculated from congressional districts plus two senators. The candidate securing a majority of 270 out of 538 total electors wins the presidency. This system emphasizes the importance of populous states and illustrates how each vote contributes to the election outcome.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ Every four years, US citizens 18 and older vote to elect the President.
• 🏛️ The election isn't decided by the popular vote but by individual states.
• 📊 Your vote contributes to your state's choice for President and Vice President.
• 🏷️ Each state's votes are counted, and the candidate with the majority wins the state's electoral support.
• 🔄 The process is repeated across all states and the District of Columbia.
• ⚖️ States have varying influence due to differences in population size.
• 🏢 States are divided into congressional districts based on population, affecting their electoral influence.
• 📈 The number of 'electors' a state has is crucial, derived from its districts plus two senators.
• 🏆 The candidate who secures a majority of 270 out of 538 total electors wins the presidency.
• 📅 The President-elect is inaugurated on January 20th following the election.

Q & A

How often do Americans vote for their president?

Americans vote for their president every four years.

What is the minimum age to vote in the U.S. presidential election?

The minimum age to vote in the U.S. presidential election is 18.

How does the U.S. election system differ from a simple popular vote?

The U.S. election system does not decide the president by the total or popular vote, but by individual states.

What happens on election day in the context of the U.S. presidential election?

On election day, voters in each state cast their votes for a presidential candidate, and the candidate with the most votes in the state gets all the state's electoral votes.

Why can't the U.S. president be elected by just counting the choices of the states?

The U.S. president can't be elected by just counting the choices of the states because states have different populations, and the system needs to account for this to ensure each state has the right amount of influence.

How does the population of a state affect its influence in the election?

The population of a state affects its influence in the election by determining the number of congressional districts it has, which in turn affects the number of electors it has.

What is the role of congressional districts in the U.S. election process?

Congressional districts are based on population and determine the number of electors a state has, which influences the state's impact on the presidential election.

How many electors does North Carolina have and how is this number determined?

North Carolina has 15 electors, determined by the number of congressional districts (13) plus two additional electors for the state's U.S. senators.

What is the significance of the number 270 in the context of the U.S. presidential election?

The number 270 is significant because it represents the majority of the 538 electors in total, and winning a majority of 270 electors secures a candidate's victory in the presidential election.

How does a candidate become the president-elect?

A candidate becomes the president-elect by winning enough states to reach the 270 majority of electors.

When does the president-elect take office?

The president-elect is sworn in as the next president of the United States on January 20th following the election.