The system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president is a process where citizens cast ballots, which then determine which candidate receives their state’s allocated electors. These electors, in turn, cast the votes that formally elect the president. The number of electors each state receives is equal to its total number of representatives in Congress (House and Senate). A candidate must secure a majority of electoral votes (currently 270 out of 538) to win the presidency. For instance, if a candidate wins the popular vote in California, they receive all of California’s electoral votes (currently 54), regardless of the margin of victory.
This indirect election method has significant geographic implications and influences political campaign strategies. Presidential candidates often focus their resources on states with a high number of electoral votes, or on swing states where the outcome is uncertain. Its historical origins lie in a compromise between direct popular vote and congressional election of the president, reflecting concerns about both the tyranny of the majority and the power of individual states. This system shapes political geography by incentivizing candidates to cater to regional interests and demographics, potentially overlooking the needs of smaller populations or less politically significant areas. It creates a spatially differentiated landscape of political influence where certain states hold disproportionate power in presidential elections.