The Electoral College Process

Electors gather in their respective state capitals on a designated day set by Congress to cast their votes for president and vice president. This voting process is a ritual, characterized by ceremonial aspects, where electors vote separately for each position while ensuring that no two candidates are from the same state. Originally, the Constitution allowed electors to cast two votes, resulting in the top candidate assuming the presidency and the second becoming vice president, which led to complications in elections, notably in the year 1800. The introduction of the 12th Amendment established the current format where electors vote first for a president and then for a vice president to mitigate the issues created during the nation’s early elections.