Understanding the Electoral College

What is the Electoral College?

• A college where presidents are trained

• A place where votes are counted

• A system where electors determine the president

• A group of people who directly elect the president

How many electors are there in total?

• 435

• 270

• 100

• 538

What is the popular vote?

• The vote cast by the president

• The vote cast by the people

• The vote cast by Congress

• The vote cast by electors

How many electors does Washington, D.C. have?

• Two

• Five

• Three

• Four

What is the minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency?

• 270

• 300

• 250

• 538

Which states can split their electoral votes?

• California and Texas

• Ohio and Illinois

• Maine and Nebraska

• Florida and New York

When do electors cast their official votes?

• On January 6

• Six weeks after Election Day

• On Inauguration Day

• On Election Day

How is the number of electors for each state determined?

• By the state's land area

• By the number of senators and representatives

• By the number of representatives only

• By the number of senators only

What happens on January 6?

• The president is inaugurated

• Congress counts the electoral votes

• The popular vote is counted

• Electors meet to cast votes

What rule do nearly all states follow in the Electoral College?

• Proportional representation

• Random selection

• Winner takes all

• Majority rule