Electoral College
- This an a system of voting unique to the United States. The president is elected not by the voters, but by electors. Electoral votes usually reflect a popular majority. Despite this there have been several cases of unfaithful electors.
- In this system each state has as many electoral votes as it has Senators and Representatives in Congress.
- The electorates are selected by state parties
- 48 of the 50 states have a winner take all system.
- Maine and Nebraska do not. If a candidate wins the state popular vote then they get the states 2 senators as electoral votes. The winners of each congressional district win an electorate if they win the congressional district.
- Electorates meet in December of the election year to cast their votes.
- Votes are counted by the Senate and the vice president reports the winner.
- If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, 270, then the election is sent to the House of Representatives. Each state delegation has one vote, no matter what its share of the population is. This has not occurred since 1824.