How the Electoral College Works

Summary

The video explains the complexities of the U.S. Electoral College, emphasizing that Americans do not vote directly for the president. Instead, they vote for electors who represent their state in determining the president. Each state has a minimum of three electoral votes, with additional votes allocated based on population. The video highlights the exclusion of territories and D.C. residents from the electoral process, noting that while electors are expected to vote as their constituents wish, they are not legally bound to do so. The electors formally cast their votes in December, ultimately deciding the presidency.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Electoral College is a system of 538 votes that determine the U.S. President, not a direct popular vote.
• 😀 Each state receives a minimum of three electoral votes, with additional votes allocated based on population.
• 😀 On Election Day, citizens vote to instruct their state on how to allocate its electoral votes, rather than voting directly for a candidate.
• 😀 Most states use a winner-takes-all system, meaning the candidate with a majority in the state receives all its electoral votes.
• 😀 The District of Columbia has electoral votes due to a constitutional amendment, but U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam do not.
• 😀 Approximately 4.4 million people live in U.S. territories, yet they receive no electoral votes in presidential elections.
• 😀 U.S. citizens living abroad can vote by postal ballot, but those who move to territories lose their right to vote for president.
• 😀 Electors are chosen by political parties and are not legally bound to vote according to the popular vote in their state.
• 😀 There have been 87 instances in history where electors voted contrary to the wishes of the voters who elected them.
• 😀 The Electoral College was designed in the 1700s for a slower communication era, allowing electors to have the latest information when casting votes in December.

Q & A

What is the primary function of the Electoral College?

The Electoral College determines who becomes the President of the United States based on the votes cast by citizens during the election.

How many total electoral votes are there, and how are they distributed?

There are 538 electoral votes in total, composed of 100 senators and 438 representatives. Each state gets three votes plus additional votes based on its population.

What is the significance of the number 538 in the context of the Electoral College?

The number 538 represents the total count of electoral votes, which is equal to the sum of the number of U.S. senators and representatives.

How do states allocate their electoral votes?

Most states use a winner-takes-all system, where the candidate receiving the majority of votes in that state gets all of its electoral votes.

What special voting arrangement exists for Washington D.C.?

Washington D.C. has electoral votes equal to the least populous state, Wyoming, allowing its residents to participate in presidential elections despite not being a state.

Why do U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam not have electoral votes?

U.S. territories do not have electoral votes because they are not states and lack a constitutional amendment recognizing them for this purpose.

What voting rights do Americans living abroad have?

Americans living abroad can vote by sending a postal vote to the last state they resided in, but if they move to a U.S. territory, they lose their right to vote for president.

What role do electors play in the Electoral College?

Electors are appointed by political parties and are supposed to vote for the candidate who wins the majority in their state, although they are not legally required to do so.

How many times have electors voted against the wishes of the voters?

Electors have voted contrary to the wishes of the voters 87 times in the history of the Electoral College.

What historical context led to the creation of the Electoral College?

The Electoral College was designed in the 1700s to allow electors to make informed decisions based on the best available information at the time, as communication was slow.