US Elections: Understanding the Electoral College System

washington - Learn about the Electoral College system in the US elections and how it determines the winner between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

As the US presidential election unfolds, all eyes are on seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. The outcome in these states will decide the next resident of the White House. This is due to the Electoral College system in the US, where the candidate with the most votes in a state wins all its electoral votes. In total, there are 538 electoral votes, and a candidate needs 270 to win the presidency. This system can result in a candidate winning the popular vote but losing the election, as seen in 2016 with Hillary Clinton. The differences in these swing states are crucial, as neither candidate has secured enough electoral votes in other states. So, the results in these states will be decisive.