The Electoral College is how the president of the United States is elected. In the U.S., there are 538 votes up for grabs between all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To win the election, a candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes which is the majority of the College.

The Electoral College has received a lot of attention of late, leading many to question why it exists — and what it would take to remove it. In two of the six presidential elections conducted this century,

The United States has a distinctive system for electing presidents indirectly — a source of confusion for those following the Trump-Harris race internationally.

With the Election Day 2024 upon us and millions of Americans already casting their votes, here's what to know about a key piece of the election.

They will cast their votes in the state they represent on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, the National Archives said. That means it will happen on Dec. 17, 2024.

The Electoral College ensures that even the most sparsely populated states have an effect on the final result (Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska come in at the three least populous US states, respectively), and that the most populous states don’t have an outsized say in the matter.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will face off in one of the most contentious elections in recent history. Stay up to date on all election news with our 2024 Election Day Live Blog.