Electoral College

The Electoral College is the body established by Article II of the Constitution through which the president and vice president are formally chosen. Each state appoints a number of electors equal to its total representation in Congress, for a national total of 538, and a majority of 270 electoral votes is required to win. In most states the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote receives all of that state’s electors, who then cast and transmit their votes for counting by Congress. Donald Trump’s fake electors plot and the January 6 attack concern efforts to disrupt or replace the certified electoral votes following the 2020 election.