Understanding the U.S. Electoral College

When you vote for a presidential candidate, who are you actually voting for?

• The candidate's political party

• The candidate's preferred electors

• The candidate's campaign team

• The candidate directly

How is the number of electors for each state determined?

• By the number of registered voters

• By the state's geographical size

• By the state's population

• By the number of senators and representatives

How many electoral votes does Washington D.C. have?

• 5

• 4

• 3

• 2

What is the total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College?

• 500

• 538

• 435

• 600

Which states do not follow the winner-takes-all rule for electoral votes?

• California and Texas

• Florida and New York

• Ohio and Pennsylvania

• Maine and Nebraska

When do electors meet to cast their votes?

• In early November

• In mid-December

• On election night

• On January 6

What is a 'faithless elector'?

• An elector who votes for their pledged candidate

• An elector who does not vote

• An elector who votes twice

• An elector who votes differently than pledged

How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

• 538

• 270

• 300

• 250

Which president won the electoral vote but lost the popular vote in 2000?

• Barack Obama

• Bill Clinton

• Donald Trump

• George W. Bush

In which year did Donald Trump win the electoral vote but lose the popular vote?

• 2016

• 2008

• 2012

• 2000