Which system is used to elect the President of the United States?

The system used to elect the President of the United States is the Electoral College. This system was established in the U.S. Constitution and serves to balance the influence of populous states with less populated ones when it comes to presidential elections. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of senators and representatives in Congress, which means that smaller states have a proportionally larger influence relative to their population size.

When citizens cast their votes for President, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to vote for their chosen candidate. These electors then formally cast their votes for President in a session held in their respective state capitals. The candidate who receives a majority of these electoral votes—currently at least 270 out of 538—becomes the President.

This system ensures that all parts of the country have a say in the selection of the President, preventing candidates from focusing exclusively on populous urban areas, which could skew national representation. While the popular vote reflects the preferences of the electorate, it is the results of the Electoral College that ultimately determine the outcome of the presidential election.