The Electoral College is a unique and often misunderstood feature of the American voting system. Established by the U.S. Constitution, it was designed as a compromise between electing the President by a vote in Congress and by popular vote. Each state is allocated a number of electors based on its representation in Congress, which includes both Senators (always 2) and Representatives, with a total of 538 electors nationwide.
One intriguing aspect of the Electoral College is the "winner-takes-all" system employed by most states. In 48 states and Washington, D.C., the candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes. This can lead to situations where a candidate wins the presidency without winning the popular vote, as seen in the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016.
The allocation of electors is not uniform. Smaller states benefit from a disproportionately higher number of electors compared to larger states due to the minimum of three electors regardless of population size. For instance, Wyoming has one elector for every roughly 195,000 residents, while California has one for every 711,000 residents. This creates an imbalance where a vote in a smaller state carries more weight than a vote in a larger state.
Another little-known fact is that electors are not required by federal law to vote according to the outcome of their state's popular vote, although most states have laws binding them to do so. This has led to instances of "faithless electors" who cast their votes for a candidate other than the one who won their state's popular vote. In 2020, there were seven faithless electors, but their votes did not affect the outcome.
The system also influences campaign strategies. Candidates focus their efforts on swing states—states where both major parties have similar levels of support—because winning these states can be crucial for securing the necessary electoral votes to win the presidency. In the 2020 election, for instance, states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan received significant attention from both parties.
Finally, there have been numerous calls for reforming or abolishing the Electoral College. Critics argue that it undermines the principle of one-person, one-vote, while supporters claim it protects the interests of smaller states. Proposals include a national popular vote or a proportional allocation of electoral votes. Nonetheless, the Electoral College remains a fundamental aspect of America's electoral framework, shaping the dynamics of presidential elections.