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How does the U.S. Electoral College determine the president and vice president?
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Electoral College
A certificate from Alabama showing the signatures of the state's electors in 2000. The nine electors voted for George W. Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney.
The Electoral College is the system used to indirectly elect the president and vice president of the United States.1
How the System Works
- Electors: Each state is allotted a number of electors equal to its total number of U.S. Senators and Representatives. The District of Columbia is also granted electors under the Twenty-third Amendment.12
- Voting: When citizens vote in the general election, they are technically choosing electors pledged to a specific candidate.1
- Allocation: In most states, the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska use a district-based method, allocating votes by congressional district with a bonus for the statewide winner.13
- Final Selection: Electors meet in December to cast separate ballots for president and vice president. To win, a candidate must secure a majority of the 538 total electoral votes, which is at least 270. Congress then certifies the results on January 6.12