Electoral College plays key role in U.S. presidential election process

The Electoral College is a system used to elect the U.S. president, consisting of 538 electors. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win. This system has led to five instances where a candidate won the presidency without winning the popular vote. Electors are chosen by political parties and typically vote for their party's candidate. After the general election, electors cast their votes in December, which are then officially counted in January. Some states require electors to follow the popular vote. Critics argue the Electoral College favors less populous states, while supporters say it protects their interests. Recent efforts to reform the system include the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would award electoral votes based on the national popular vote, but it has not yet reached the necessary majority.