Electoral College System: How It Works — Reading Comprehension

The Electoral College is a unique system used to elect the President of the United States. Instead of choosing the president by direct popular vote, Americans actually vote for a group of people called electors. These electors then cast the official votes for president and vice president. This method was created during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when the founders debated how to balance power between large and small states. Some leaders wanted Congress to choose the president, while others believed the people should decide directly. The compromise became the Electoral College.

Under the Constitution, each state receives a number of electors equal to the total number of its senators and representatives in Congress. For example, a state with two senators and eight representatives has ten electors. There are a total of 538 electors in the entire country. To win the presidency, a candidate needs a majority of electoral votes—at least 270. On Election Day, voters in each state cast ballots for their preferred candidate. In most states, the candidate with the most votes wins all the state's electoral votes, a system called "winner-take-all." Only Maine and Nebraska use a different method, splitting their electoral votes.

Supporters of the Electoral College argue that it protects the interests of smaller states and encourages candidates to campaign across the nation. They claim it prevents a few large cities or states from deciding the entire election. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist Papers, No. 68, "The mode of appointment of the Chief Magistrate of the United States is almost the only part of the system... which has escaped without severe censure." Hamilton believed the system would "afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder." This meant the founders wanted a process that would be orderly and fair, even if not everyone agreed with it.

However, critics say the Electoral College can lead to unfair results. For example, a candidate can win the presidency by winning a few key states, even if another candidate gets more votes nationwide. This happened in the 2000 and 2016 elections, when the candidates who received the most popular votes did not become president. Opponents argue that the system is outdated and does not reflect the principle of democracy, where every person's vote should count equally. They also note that people living in smaller or less populated states have more influence per vote than those in larger states, because of the way electors are distributed.

The debate over the Electoral College reflects broader issues in American government, such as federalism and the balance of power. Some people want to keep the system, believing it is an important part of the nation's history and structure. Others want to replace it with a direct national vote. Attempts to change the system have always faced challenges, because changing the Constitution is a difficult process. Still, the Electoral College remains a central part of every U.S. presidential election, shaping the strategies of candidates and the way Americans experience democracy.

Interesting Fact: In 1824, four candidates ran for president and no one received a majority of electoral votes, so the House of Representatives chose the president.

What does the Electoral College do?

How many total electors are there?

Which state splits electoral votes?

Why did the founders create the Electoral College?

What is a major criticism of the system?

What was Hamilton's view of the system?

True or False: Changing the Electoral College is easy.

What does 'majority' mean?