The Electoral College System

The electoral college is a system used in America's presidential elections. It is composed of electors who are chosen by political parties to elect the candidates to a particular office. Each elector represents a state or territory and is pledged to vote for the candidate of that party. No third-party candidate may be elected.

Electoral votes go to the candidate who receives the most votes in a state
In most states, all electoral votes go to the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the state. The winning slate of electors then meets in the state capital to cast their votes. Each elector casts two ballots. Electors cannot vote for both the President and Vice President of the United States from the same state. However, electors from Maine and Nebraska can cast their ballots for both candidates.

The Electoral College is made up of 538 representatives and senators. These representatives are chosen based on loyalty to a political party and will vote for the presidential candidate who won the most popular votes in the state. The election results are officially declared when Congress signs a certificate of ascertainment announcing the winner. However, this archaic system can lead to the election of a president who is unpopular in his or her state.

Electors are nominated by a political party
Electors are chosen from a list of potential candidates by their political party. In some states, such as Oregon, electors are selected by congressional district committee chairs, while in others, electors are chosen by state conventions. In the United States, a presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. The electoral college is composed of 538 electors.

Political parties choose electors to represent their party in the presidential election. The party may choose electors who are party members, state officials, or people with a personal connection to the candidate. These electors meet four times a year to elect a president.

They are pledged to vote for their party's candidate
There is no federal law requiring electors to support the nominee of their party, but historically, electors have voted against party instructions. A Minnesota elector voted for John Edwards in 2004. Political parties pick electors based on party loyalty, and many are party leaders themselves. Even so, many electors have broken their pledge to vote for their party's nominee.

Electors are also expected by the states to honor the will of their constituents, so states generally expect electors to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote. However, it should be noted that the Constitution makes no such guarantee, and states have resorted to fine electors if they violate their pledge. In total, there have been ninety faithless electoral votes cast in presidential elections. In 2016, there were a record-breaking seven faithless electors, including one former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and one other elected by the state.

They cannot vote for a third-party candidate
The electoral college is a system that determines which candidates will be elected to office. As the most important election in the country, the presidential election is decided by a majority of state votes. Because third-party votes are so small, it is important to choose the candidate with the most favorable policy outcomes.

Although there are numerous third-party candidates running for president, the electoral college doesn't allow them to get a majority of the votes. In order to win the presidency, a third-party candidate must win at least three states. In the past, third-party candidates have been unable to defeat the major-party duopoly. Even the segregationist George Wallace won a small number of electoral votes, but failed to secure a majority.

While it's a shame that third-party candidates don't have a strong presence in the presidential election, it's also important to note that third-party candidates don't win elections. In 2016, Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate, won 3.27% of the popular vote, but zero electoral college points. In 1992, Ross Perot received 19% of the vote, but won no electoral college points. So, if you're looking for a way to make a third-party candidate more viable, consider the following points.

They are not required to vote for their party's candidate
Federal law does not require electors to vote for the candidate of their party. However, there have been examples when electors have voted against party instructions. For example, in the 2004 presidential election, an elector from Minnesota voted for John Edwards. Electors are generally selected by political parties because of their party loyalty, and many are even party leaders.

Presidential electors are chosen by state party leadership and state party committees. Their party nominates them over a long period of time. Some electors may be nominated by multiple parties. The low rate of defections is largely due to this party loyalty. In addition, state legislation offers an incentive for electors to vote for their party's nominee.