Explainer: What is the U.S. Electoral College and how does it work?

The video explains the US presidential election process, focusing on the Electoral College. Citizens over 18 can vote in elections, known as the popular vote, but the Electoral College ultimately decides the president. The Electoral College was created to ensure fair representation for smaller states and consists of 538 members. To win the presidency, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes, often achieved by winning the popular vote in each state. However, a candidate can win the national popular vote but lose the electoral vote, as seen in the 2016 election. This discrepancy has occurred five times in US history.

What is the primary reason the founding fathers created the Electoral College?

• To simplify the election process

• To give more power to larger states

• To ensure a direct democracy

• To prevent uninformed voting

How many members are there in the Electoral College?

• 100

• 270

• 538

• 435

What is the winner-takes-all system in the context of the Electoral College?

• The candidate who wins the majority of states wins the election

• The candidate with the most electoral votes wins all states

• The candidate with the most national votes wins all electoral votes

• The candidate who wins a state's popular vote receives all its electoral votes

In which year did a candidate win the presidency without winning the popular vote?

• 1992

• 2000

• 2012

• 2016

How many times in U.S. history has the popular vote differed from the electoral vote?

• Three times

• Five times

• Seven times

• Ten times