TED-Ed: Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained - Christina Greer

The video explains the Electoral College, a group appointed by states to elect the US president and vice president. It details the allocation of 538 electors based on congressional representation and the District of Columbia. The video discusses how states gain or lose electoral votes through the census and the impact of winning key states. It highlights the potential for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose the election due to the distribution of electoral votes. The video also covers criticisms and defenses of the Electoral College, focusing on its impact on small and large states, and explains the concepts of safe and swing states.

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

• To formally elect the president and vice president

• To conduct the national census

• To oversee state elections

• To create election laws

How is the number of electors for each state determined?

• By the state's population size

• By the state's economic output

• By the state's land area

• By the number of registered voters

Why do presidential candidates focus on winning states like Texas, Florida, and New York?

• They have the most registered voters

• They have the highest voter turnout

• They have a large number of electoral votes

• They are the most populous states

What can happen in a presidential election if a candidate wins the popular vote but not the electoral vote?

• The candidate loses the presidency

• The candidate wins the presidency

• The election is declared invalid

• The candidate automatically becomes vice president

What is a common criticism of the Electoral College system?

• It is too complex for voters to understand

• It gives an unfair advantage to states with large numbers of electoral votes

• It is too expensive to maintain

• It gives too much power to small states

What are 'safe states' in the context of U.S. presidential elections?

• States with the highest voter turnout

• States with the most electoral votes

• States that have a history of voting for a particular party

• States that are geographically large

What is the significance of the number 270 in U.S. presidential elections?

• It is the number of votes needed in Congress to confirm the election

• It is the number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency

• It is the number of states a candidate must win

• It is the total number of electoral votes available