Electoral College:

The constitutional system for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States.

Total electoral vote: 538 (435 Congress, 100 Senate and 3 District of Columbia Washington DC).

Needed to elect: 270

The State went three routes in choosing electors:

1-Legislative system

The state Legislatures choose the electors.

2-A district system

Electors are selected by the people of each congressional district.

Like in Maine and Nebraska.

3-General ticket (winner take all)

Popular vote held in the entire state and the winner take all the electoral votes.

In 48 states.

*Candidates for electors usually are nominated by party conventions, in primary elections, or by party organization.

*Problem

>President can be elected to office even if it is not what the people want.

>Electors are not punished for being unfaithful to what they have pledged.

**Every 10 years the census figures and adjusts how many representatives each state has.