Political Dictionary
An electoral vote is a formal vote cast by a presidential elector for president or vice president.
Definition
An electoral vote is the vote cast by an appointed elector in the Electoral College. States receive a number of electors equal to their total congressional representation, while the District of Columbia receives three. Electoral votes, not the nationwide popular-vote total, determine the presidential winner.
Why It Matters
A presidential candidate normally needs a majority of appointed electoral votes. The distribution of electoral votes among states shapes campaign strategy and makes state-level outcomes decisive.
How It Works
After voters choose presidential tickets, winning slates of electors are appointed under state law. Electors meet in December and sign certificates recording their votes. Congress counts those votes in January.
History
Electoral voting dates to the first presidential election. The Twelfth Amendment required separate electoral votes for president and vice president, and later laws standardized counting and certification procedures.
Example
A state with ten electoral votes may award all ten to the statewide popular-vote winner under a winner-take-all system.
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