How the electoral college works

The video explains how the U.S. presidential election is decided by the Electoral College, which consists of 538 electors. A candidate must secure at least 270 votes to win. Each state gets a minimum of 3 votes, with the rest distributed based on population, except in Maine and Nebraska. The winner-takes-all system means a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election, as seen in the 2000 election where Al Gore lost despite winning 48.4% of the vote, while George W. Bush won with 271 electoral votes.

How many total electors are in the Electoral College?

• 435

• 600

• 270

• 538

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

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Which two states do not follow the winner-takes-all rule?

• New York and Illinois

• Maine and Nebraska

• Florida and Ohio

• California and Texas

What is a potential outcome of the winner-takes-all system?

• A candidate can win the popular vote and the election.

• A candidate can lose the popular vote and still win the election.

• A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election.

• A candidate can lose both the popular vote and the election.

In the 2000 election, who won the presidency despite losing the popular vote?

• Barack Obama

• Bill Clinton

• George W. Bush

• Al Gore