In the class, we unpacked the essentials of the U.S. electoral system, focusing on the Electoral College's role in presidential elections.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps:

Overview of the Electoral College:

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, with a majority of 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.
Each state's number of electors equals its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress, reflecting the state's population size.

Learn Your State's Rules:

Understand how your state allocates electoral votes (all to the winner or split) and its impact on the election.

Participate in Primaries:

Vote in your party’s primary to influence who will contend in the general election.

Track the Electoral Vote:

After the general election, the Electoral College vote in December is what officially determines the President.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): Provides comprehensive information on the Electoral College system
U.S. Election Assistance Commission: Offers resources on understanding the election process, including the Electoral College
Ballotpedia: A detailed resource for information on electoral votes by state and historical election data (ballotpedia.org/Electoral_College).
What is the Electoral College?