What Is the U.S. Electoral College? A Guide for 15-Year-Olds

The Electoral College is the system the United States uses to officially choose its president and vice president. Despite its name, it is not a school or a single place where people gather. It is a process involving voters, state-appointed electors, and Congress.

How it works, step by step

1. People vote in their states. On Election Day, voters choose among presidential candidates. Their votes determine which candidate their state’s electors are expected to support.
2. Each state has a set number of electoral votes. A state’s number equals its representatives in the House of Representatives plus its two senators. Washington, D.C., also has three electoral votes. There are 538 electoral votes altogether.
3. Most states award all their electoral votes to one candidate. Usually, the candidate who gets the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska use systems that can divide their electoral votes.
4. Electors cast the official votes. The electors meet after the election and cast ballots for president and vice president. Congress then counts those ballots.
5. A candidate needs a majority to win. Because there are 538 electoral votes, a candidate generally needs at least 270 to become president.

Why can the popular-vote winner lose?

The popular vote is the total number of individual votes cast nationwide. The Electoral College result is based on electoral votes, which are awarded state by state. A candidate can win more states—or win key states by narrow margins—and reach 270 electoral votes while receiving fewer votes across the country overall. This has happened in U.S. elections.

Why does the United States use it?

The Electoral College was created in the Constitution. Its supporters often say it gives states a role in choosing the president and encourages candidates to build support across different parts of the country. Critics argue that it can make some voters’ influence seem unequal and allow a candidate to win without the most nationwide votes.

In short: Americans vote in their states, states award electoral votes, and the candidate who receives at least 270 electoral votes wins the presidency.