What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

Why This Matters

Many people around the world assume that the President of the United States is chosen directly by the people's votes. In reality, the President is chosen by the Electoral College. When Americans vote in a presidential election, they are actually voting for a group of electors in their state. These electors then cast the official votes that decide who becomes President. This system has been in place since the Constitution was written in 1787.

Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of senators and representatives in Congress. For example, a state with two senators and ten representatives would have twelve electoral votes. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state gets all of that state's electoral votes. A candidate needs at least 270 out of 538 total electoral votes to win the presidency.

For your citizenship interview, the key point is simple: the Electoral College chooses the President. You do not need to explain all the details, just remember that the purpose of the Electoral College is to elect the President. This is one of the most commonly tested topics on the civics exam, so make sure you are comfortable with this answer.

Key Facts

• The Electoral College is the system used to elect the President of the United States
• There are 538 total electoral votes across all states and Washington, D.C.
• A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency
• Each state's number of electors equals its number of senators plus its number of representatives
• The Electoral College was created by the Constitution in 1787

Common Mistakes

• Saying the people directly elect the President, technically, the Electoral College does
• Confusing the Electoral College with Congress, they are completely different bodies
• Thinking the Electoral College is a physical school or building, it is a process, not a place

Study Tip

Remember this simple sentence: "The Electoral College elects the President." That is the core answer. If it helps, think of the word "elect" inside "Electoral", the Electoral College's entire purpose is to elect. Say this sentence out loud five times and it will stay with you.