Electors are high ranking members of the political party who are selected in each state to cast an official vote for president. Electors usually vote according to the state's popular vote. Each political party has its own slate of electors (for each state) and the number of electors are based on the state’s congressional representation. The votes cast by members of the electoral college determine the outcome of the presidential election - 270 to win!
Theme
Topic
LOC Resource
LOC Title
The Electoral College – What Is It and How Does It Function?
LOC Short Description
Blog post by two legal reference librarians from the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress about the Electoral College system.
LOC Title
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College: The Proceedings of the Electoral Commission of 1877
LOC Short Description
A special presentation highlighting the Proceedings of the Electoral Commission of 1877, which was created to resolve disputed Electoral College results, with links to other resources related to the Electoral College.
LOC Title
Elections… the American Way: What is the Electoral College?
LOC Short Description
A section of the presentation “Elections… the American Way” that addresses the history of the Electoral College.