In other words, each awards its electoral votes to the presidential candidate chosen by the state’s voters.įorty-eight states and the District of Columbia use a winner-take-all system, awarding all of their electoral votes to the popular vote winner in the state. Initially, a number of state legislatures directly selected their electors, but during the 19th century they transitioned to the popular vote, which is now used by all 50 states. The Constitution grants state legislatures the power to decide how to appoint their electors. A presidential candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes cast to win - at least 270 if all 538 electors vote. In total, the Electoral College comprises 538 members. The ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961 allowed citizens in the District of Columbia to participate in presidential elections as well they have consistently had three electors. Each of the 50 states is allocated presidential electors equal to the number of its representatives and senators. The Electoral College is a group of intermediaries designated by the Constitution to select the president and vice president of the United States. What is the Electoral College and how does it work? To make the United States a more representative democracy, reformers are pushing for the presidency to be decided instead by the national popular vote, which would help ensure that every voter counts equally. It incentivizes presidential campaigns to focus on a relatively small number of “swing states.” Together, these dynamics have spurred debate about the system’s democratic legitimacy. The Electoral College has racist origins - when established, it applied the three-fifths clause, which gave a long-term electoral advantage to slave states in the South - and continues to dilute the political power of voters of color. On five occasions, including in two of the last six elections, candidates have won the Electoral College, and thus the presidency, despite losing the nationwide popular vote. In the United States, the presidency is decided not by the national popular vote but by the Electoral College - an outdated and convoluted system that sometimes yields results contrary to the choice of the majority of American voters. Attend the Brennan Legacy Awards Dinner.Advance Constitutional Change Show / hide.National Task Force on Democracy Reform & the Rule of Law.Government Targeting of Minority Communities Show / hide.Campaign Finance in the Courts Show / hide.Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Show / hide.Ensure Every American Can Vote Show / hide.
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