How does the electoral college process work?
The electoral college is pivotal this election season. Matt Grossmann, Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at Michigan State University, joins LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.
WASHINGTON – Electors at state capitols across the United States gathered to cast their electoral votes on Tuesday to formalize President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
November’s election was just one of the many steps included in the presidential election process.
Trump’s comeback
Trump had a historic comeback in the 2024 election after losing four years ago to President Joe Biden.
Trump swept all seven of the hotly-contested battleground states, winning 312 electoral votes, compared to Harris’ 226. The number needed to clinch the presidency is 270.
How does the electoral college work?
The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted direct popular elections for president and those who preferred to have Congress decide.
Once votes are cast for whichever presidential candidate, the vote goes to a statewide tally.
In 48 states and Washington, D.C., the winner gets all the electoral votes for that state.
For example, California has 55 electoral votes. Once voters cast their ballots, whoever has the higher tally of votes, that candidate will then get all 55 electoral votes.
When is the deadline?
Once electors cast their votes for president and vice president, they record their results on Certificates of Votes.
They must send this certification to the president of the Senate (Harris) and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. by Dec. 25 to be included in the official count.
The final count will take place on Jan. 6, 2025, when Congress convenes to count the electoral votes.
Popular vote v. electoral votes
Yes, there is a difference.
It is possible for a presidential candidate to win the popular vote and still lose the election because they were unable to get a majority of electoral votes, but this rarely happens.
Most often, the popular vote and the electoral vote mirror each other, but there are few instances in history when the two have differed. Most recently, in 2016, Trump won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton.
In other U.S. elections, candidates are directly elected based on the popular vote. Only the president and vice president are not directly elected by citizens. They are chosen based on the Electoral College process.
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