Britannica Insights: Electoral College

The video explains the Electoral College system used to elect the U.S. president and vice president. It details how voters actually vote for electors pledged to candidates, who then cast votes in December. The allocation of electoral votes is based on state representation in Congress, with a total of 538 electors. If no candidate receives 270 votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives, where each state has one vote.

What is the primary role of the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections?

• To directly elect the president and vice president

• To cast votes on behalf of the states

• To provide a backup in case of a tie

• To ensure equal representation of all states

How is the number of electoral votes for each state determined?

• By the state's geographical size

• By the number of registered voters

• By the number of senators and representatives in Congress

• By the state's population alone

What is the minimum number of electoral votes a state can have?

• Four

• Three

• Two

• One

How many total electors are there in the Electoral College?

• 270

• 538

• 100

• 435

If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, who decides the president?

• The Senate

• The Supreme Court

• The House of Representatives

• The Vice President