The Electoral College
How America's unique presidential election system works, why it exists, and the ongoing debate over its reform.
How the Electoral College Works
The president of the United States is not elected by popular vote but by the Electoral College, a body of 538 electors allocated among the states. Each state receives electors equal to its total congressional representation (House seats plus two senators). Washington, D.C. receives three electors under the 23rd Amendment. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.
In 48 states and D.C., the winner of the state's popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes (winner-take-all). Maine and Nebraska use a congressional district method, allocating some electors by district. If no candidate reaches 270, the election goes to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation gets one vote. This has happened twice: in 1800 and 1824.