Electoral College (USA)

The Electoral College is a system used to elect the U.S. President. Instead of voting directly for a candidate, voters choose electors from their state, who then formally cast votes for the President. Each state has a set number of electors roughly based on its population. Most states award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. To become President, a candidate needs a majority of electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538). This process balances state and national interests and has been part of U.S. elections since founding.