What is the Electoral College?
Defending the Electoral College
The Constitution creates a multi-step democratic process to elect the president and vice president--the Electoral College. It unifies, moderates, and protects American politics, and is part of what makes the United States a federal republic.
Today, this system is threatened by a campaign to manipulate the Electoral College using an interstate compact. This “National Popular Vote” scheme threatens to create a constitutional crisis.
Find out what you can do by selecting your state on the map, or discover more about these topics below.
Defend your state today
From the blog
Trump wins 520 electoral votes?
Nov 07, 2024
by Trent England
Every NPV state went for Harris. If those states actually followed through on their supposed dedication to the national popular vote concept, they would give their 209 electoral votes to the Republican ticket.
Read moreStill Waiting on the ‘National Popular Vote’ Winner
Nov 07, 2024
by Sean Parnell
Under NPV, we’d likely have another three or four weeks of waiting, with all the chaos and confusion that would bring. That doesn’t seem healthy for our democracy.
Read moreThe Electoral College and Constitutionalism
Nov 04, 2024
by Trent England
Tomorrow, Americans will vote for their state’s presidential electors. This is the first step in the two-part democratic election process set forth in the Constitution for choosing the president and vice president.
Read moreBenefits of the Electoral College: Political Accountability and Trust
Nov 01, 2024
by Trent England
This is the fifth and final post in our series about some of the benefits of the Electoral College.
Read moreBenefits of the Electoral College: National Coalitions
Oct 31, 2024
by Trent England
Perhaps the greatest benefit of our state-by-state election process is the powerful incentive it creates against regionalism. This is always true, but easiest to see in the late 19th century.
Read moreBenefits of the Electoral College: Decisive Results
Oct 30, 2024
by Trent England
The nationwide popular vote margin in 1880 was less than 10,000 votes, or just about .1 percent. Neither candidate had a majority, which is often the case in close presidential elections.
Read moreBenefits of the Electoral College: State, not National, Control
Oct 29, 2024
by Trent England
One consequence of the Electoral College is a practical respect for states, both their boundaries and their legislatures.
Read moreBenefits of the Electoral College: Containing Disputes
Oct 28, 2024
by Trent England
It is easy to forget that when we vote “for president,” we really vote for electors pledged to support the candidate we favor.
Read moreCorrecting NBC News on the Electoral College
Oct 26, 2024
by Trent England
Why does the U.S. use the Electoral College, asks a new video from NBC News. The network’s Zinhle Essamuah attempts to explain it, but flubs some of the details.
Read moreWhy the Electoral College?
Oct 24, 2024
by Trent England
The Electoral College is under attack because it matters. Presidential elections determine who will direct federal agencies and appoint judges, but the process also shapes the rest of American politics.
Read more