Explaining election day: How the Electoral College works

In the US, the president is elected through the Electoral College system, which includes 538 electors based on the number of members in Congress and three votes from the District of Columbia. This system resulted from a compromise during the Constitutional Convention between those favouring a national popular vote and others wanting Congress to select the president. To win, a candidate must secure 270 electoral votes, determined by the popular vote in individual states. Most states use a "winner-takes-all" approach, while Maine and Nebraska split their electoral votes based on congressional district results.