Elections for president are more complex than a simple vote count: The operation of the Electoral College

Elections for president are more complex than a simple vote count: The operation of the Electoral College

How does one become president? To begin with, you have to be a natural-born citizen and at least 35 years old. But how can a contender become president once the campaign is over and the votes are counted?

With Republican contenders taking the debate stage and polls staking early forecasts, the 2024 presidential election is drawing near. Here is all the information you need to know about how American votes are counted before election day arrives.

The Electoral College: What is it?

The Constitution established the Electoral College as a presidential voting procedure. This system was devised by the founding fathers as a compromise between a vote in Congress and a direct popular vote among residents.

Learn more about how the 2020 battleground states were impacted by the Electoral College.

What’s the process for electors to use?

What’s the process for electors to use?

Based on the number of members of Congress in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., there are 538 electoral votes allotted to them.To win, a candidate needs 270 votes.

The electoral votes are a reallocation of the statewide total that is represented by the popular vote. Your vote is tabulated alongside those of the entire state when you cast your ballot. The victor receives every electoral vote in the majority of states.

Maine and Nebraska are the sole exceptions, with electors determined by the popular vote in both the state and each Congressional district. A “split vote,” in which some votes are given to one candidate and others to the other, may be available in these states. This occurred in 2008 in Nebraska, in 2016 in Maine, and in 2020 in both states.

States designate electors, who cast ballots for the president and vice president on their behalf. The general criteria for elector selection are outlined in the Constitution and federal legislation. State laws follow these guidelines but differ in other aspects. Members of Congress, senior federal offices, and involvement in an insurrection or rebellion against the United States are prohibited for electors.

A predicted winner is declared following the tallying of the electoral votes. The House elects the president by majority vote if no candidate receives 270 votes. The 2024 presidential contest will follow this schedule:

A predicted winner is declared following the tallying of the electoral votes. The House elects the president by majority vote if no candidate receives 270 votes. The 2024 presidential contest will follow this schedule:

What counts toward a state’s electoral vote total?

In addition to the number of congressional districts it possesses, a state receives two votes for each senator. Census data is used to analyze these figures. The most populated state in the union, California, has 54 votes, while Wyoming, the least populated, has just 3.As an illustration

The 2020 Census, which will be taken into account for the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections, is the basis for the current allocations. The votes allocated to each state, including Washington, D.C., are as follows:

The 2020 Census, which will be taken into account for the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections, is the basis for the current allocations. The votes allocated to each state, including Washington, D.C., are as follows:

Distribution of the Electoral College

In 2024, who is vying to be president?An examination of each candidate in greater detail

The votes are certified and counted by Congress. On January 6, they have a combined meeting when the vice president oversees the count and makes the announcement of the outcome.

The votes are certified and counted by Congress. On January 6, they have a combined meeting when the vice president oversees the count and makes the announcement of the outcome.

In reaction to the uprising on January 6, Congress amended the Electoral Count Act last year to make it clear that a vice president lacks the authority to void a presidential election.

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