What electoral system does the U.S. use?
The most common method used in U.S. elections is the first-past-the-post system, where the highest-polling candidate wins the election. Under this system, a candidate only requires a plurality of votes to win, rather than an outright majority.
How many electoral points does each State have?
Electoral College Certificates and Votes by State
State | Number of Electoral Votes for Each State | For President |
---|---|---|
California | 55 | 55 |
Colorado | 9 | 9 |
Connecticut | 7 | 7 |
Delaware | 3 | 3 |
What is the Electoral College and how does it work?
The Electoral College is a system where citizens indirectly elect the president and vice president through a body of 538 electors. What are electors? Electors are people chosen by their state parties prior to the general election who cast their vote for president on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December.
What was unusual about the Electoral College in the 1800s?
The system had some unusual results from the start, as evident in the election of 1800, a tie in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received an equal number of electoral votes. Congress broke the tie, and Jefferson became president and Burr became vice president.
How many electoral votes does each state have?
A total of 538 electoral votes are in play across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The total number of electoral votes assigned to each state varies depending on population, but each state has at least three, and the District of Columbia has had three electors since 1961.
What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College?
Because there is now an even number of electoral votes, a tie is feasible. If that happens in the Electoral College, then the decision goes to the newly seated House of Representatives, with each state voting as a unit.