Welcome back, AL.
Americans do not directly elect our president. Each state elects members of the electoral college. In most cases they are obligated to vote for the candidate who received the most votes in their state.
Check this site for more details.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/electoral-college.htm
Hi, I'm back again. You might see me post some questions from time to time over my summer holidays, but it's not about homework. I am willing to learn a few things over the break.
Anyways, what is an electoral vote that is needed for a U.S. presidental candidate? I'm a bit confused.
5 answers
Then why would Americans still vote on Election Day? Does their votes affect the decisions made by the Electoral College? I think they will be a part of the popular vote.
Voters choose their preference for the president they want. Then, states allocate slates of electorial candidates who are committed for a particular candidate. States have different ways of doing this, most do winner take all, but some divide up the electorial candidates proportionally by the vote. This should have been covered in high school.
Americans vote on election day, hoping that their candidate will win the majority of votes in their state. However, if I were a Republican in a solid Democratic state, I'd sure be tempted not to waste my time. The catch is that often elections are upsets. The pollsters don't always know who is going to take the most votes. The famous 1948 Chicago Tribune headline, "Dewey Wins" is an excellent example of a major upset. The newspaper had printed the story after only some of the votes had been counted -- and it was dead wrong.
And of course, there's the 2000 election in which Gore took the majority of the popular votes, but Bush took the majority of the electoral college votes.
And of course, there's the 2000 election in which Gore took the majority of the popular votes, but Bush took the majority of the electoral college votes.
Our votes elect the electors. The electors then meet in the Electoral College and THEY formally elect the President/Vice-President based on the results of the state's votes.
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/