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In the US elections for President and Vice President, the Electoral College actually votes to determine the winner. Many states award their electoral votes "winner take all" so that a narrow victory is the same as an overwhelming one. If one candidate wins most of the very-populous states but not enough electoral votes, their large popular vote in those states does not do them any good.

The Electoral College was set up to avoid domination of the Presidency by candidates from the most populous states, at the expense of the more-numerous smaller states.

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It is possible that a candidate could win the "national" popular vote total but lose the electoral vote total. However, the electoral vote of every state accurately reflects the popular vote within that state. A candidate could win the electoral votes in a large state such as California winning the state by a huge margin. However the opposing candidate could win the electoral votes in other states because a majority of the voters in those states vote for the opposing candidate.

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Q: How can you win the popular vote and still lose the election with the Electoral College system?
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Related questions

A direct popular election would what the electoral college system?

Would end


Is a popular vote election more democratic than using the electoral college system?

no


Who is against the electoral college?

Individuals who support the candidate that lost the Electoral College election generally are against the Electoral College system.


What is a major flaw in the electoral college college system?

A major flaw in the electoral college system is that a candidate could win the popular vote, but lose the election, due to the number of votes per state. This occurred between Bush and Gore.


What would a direct election do to the electoral college system?

it would end


What is the policy called that lets the popular candidate get all the electoral votes?

The Electoral college system


How is the total of 538 Electoral College votes determined What is the purpose of the popular vote in the Electoral College system?

The total of 538 Electoral College votes is determined by allocating 435 votes to the House of Representatives (each state receives a minimum of one), 100 votes to the Senate (two per state), and three votes to the District of Columbia. The purpose of the popular vote in the Electoral College system is to determine the outcome of the presidential election in each state. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state typically receives all of that state's electoral votes.


Which amendment makes it possible that a president candidate can lose the popular vote but still win the electoral vote and the election?

The amendment in question is not responsible for allowing a presidential candidate to lose the popular vote but win the electoral vote. This is a consequence of the design of the Electoral College, outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The Electoral College system can result in a discrepancy between the popular vote and the electoral vote, as it is the latter that ultimately determines the outcome of the presidential election.


What is one main problem with the Electoral College system of electing the President?

I would not call it a problem, but one feature of the system is its winner-take-all aspect in the awarding of electoral votes. States can split their votes but only a few states choose to do so. There are also people who think it would be better to base the election solely on the popular votes and dispense with the electoral college altogether. However, there are good reasons why the electoral college was established by the Constitution and many new problems that would likely arise with a direct election.


What development led to a change in the electoral college system following the election of 1800?

The rise of political parties


Do you think the electoral college system is compatible with the concept of popular sovereignty?

yes


What is the difference between a direct popular election and the electoral college?

A direct popular election is a system where the president is elected solely based on the national popular vote, with each citizen's vote given equal weight. The electoral college, on the other hand, is a system where the president is elected indirectly, with electors chosen by each state based on the state's representation in Congress. In this system, the winner of each state's popular vote typically receives all of that state's electors, and the candidate who wins the majority of electoral votes becomes the president.