How does the electoral college work?
The Electoral College is the system established by the United States Constitution that is used to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Each state is assigned a certain number of electors, equal to the number of representatives and senators the state has in Congress. For example, Delaware has 3 electoral votes, corresponding to its 1 Representative and 2 Senators in Congress. On Election Day, the people in each state vote for President and Vice President. The electors then meet in the state capital to cast their votes for the candidates. In Delaware, the 3 electors meet on the Monday after the first Wednesday in December to cast their votes. It is the votes of the electors that are counted in the election, not the popular vote. Of the 538 electors across the country, the candidate with the majority of electoral votes, at least 270, wins the election. If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, then the U.S. House of Representatives must determine the winner, with each state delegation having one vote. The same process applies to the vice presidency, although the Senate votes to determine the winner if no one receives a majority of votes. Overall, the Electoral College is designed to ensure that smaller states and states with diverse populations are represented in the election process. It is also a check and balance on the power of the citizens to prevent a popular vote from overriding the will of the states.
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