How the US Election System Works
The US Electoral College: A System of Indirect Voting The Electoral College is one of the most debated and often misunderstood elements of the U.S. election process. Unlike most countries, where the head of state is chosen directly by popular vote, the U.S. uses an intermediary system that provides representation to each state and balances the interests of smaller states against those with larger populations. How the Electoral College Works Each state is assigned a certain number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress-meaning the total of its senators (always two) and representatives (which varies by state population). Washington, D.C. is also allocated three electoral votes, although it has no voting members in Congress. Electors: Every four years, each political party in every state nominates electors who pledge to vote for their party’s candidate should that party win the popular vote in their state. These electors are often loyal party members or activists. The