Key Takeaways
- The Electoral College has 538 electors; 270 votes are required to win.
- Electors are typically selected by political parties, though state laws can differ.
- The general election is held every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
- States mostly use a winner-take-all system for electors, except Maine and Nebraska.
- Congress officially counts electoral votes on January 6, and the President is inaugurated on January 20.
The Electoral College: A Unique American Tradition
The Electoral College is a complex system designed to balance popular will with federal interests. Established in the Constitution, it was crafted as a compromise, which is America’s unofficial pastime.
Instead of conducting a single national vote for president, each state has a designated number of electors, determined by its congressional representation. Size is very important here—for example, California has 54 electors, while Vermont has 3.
The magic number of 538 electors constitutes this game, where 270 of them are required to avoid an awkward “who gets to be president” moment.
Each state’s electors generally mirror the winner of the popular vote in that state, a system called “winner-takes-all.” This implies if a candidate secures just one more vote than the rival, they claim all that state’s electoral votes—a dramatic first-place victory!
Most states operate on this principle, but Maine and Nebraska spice things up with their proportional representation.
As every November rolls around, voters indirectly place their bets on these electors, leaving the quirky tradition of the Electoral College intact.
The Role of Electors and Their Selection
Electors eventually cast votes for President and Vice President. Each candidate amasses their own slate of electors, a group usually handpicked by their party. Those slates are influenced by state laws, which means candidate fan clubs could look different from one state to another.
To be appointed as an elector, individuals must meet specific qualifications, which usually include being a resident of the state and a member of the political party.
Once appointed, electors may face the not-so-tough decision of whether to stick to the popular vote or channel their inner rebel.
Most adhere with the winner of the public vote, playing it safe because nobody enjoys the backlash of defying the masses.
So, in this societal game of chess, the electors wield a lot more power than you’d think.
The General Election and Its Aftermath
After the voting concludes, state executives prepare a Certificate of Ascertainment that lists all electors and their votes. This document travels to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and becomes part of the official electoral records.
Moving to the next stage, on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors convene to cast their formal votes.
The Final Countdown: Congress and Inauguration
Once the electors have completed their pen-wielding duties in December, the suspense doesn’t just evaporate like voters’ hopes. The results are then whisked away to Congress, where the grand electoral vote counting happens on January 6. This session is like the Super Bowl of democracy, with members of both the House and Senate gathering to fulfill a constitutional obligation that’s almost as thrilling as watching paint dry.
During this event, the Vice President, in his capacity as Senate president, oversees the counting. After the votes are counted, he announces the winner. The newly elected President and Vice President have their aspirations solidified, transforming complicating electing into an official affair.
Finally, the big day arrives on January 20, when the President-elect fancies a little something called the oath of office. It’s a formality that solidifies their role, ushering in the pomp and circumstance that highlights the grandiosity of American governance.