How the US election system works

The people of the United States will vote for their next president today, but that is just the start of a complex procedure which ends with the official swearing-in ceremony in January.

Tue, 02 Nov, 2004 - 10:24

The people of the United States will vote for their next president today, but that is just the start of a complex procedure which ends with the official swearing-in ceremony in January.

After Americans have made their choice on polling day, the votes are counted in each individual state to see which candidate has the most.

Under the system, each state is allotted a number of electoral college votes, linked to population size.

The most populous state, California, has the most votes – 55 – and other large states like New York and Florida have 31 and 27 respectively.

The least populated states, such as Montana, Vermont and Alaska, have just three votes.

In all, there are 538 electoral college votes up for grabs.

Everywhere except in Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who wins the most votes in the state is given all that state’s electoral college votes.

To win the White House, one candidate must have at least 270 electoral college votes of the 538 available.

Electoral college voters meet for this formal process in mid-December and that is when the president is officially elected.

The system was originally established to ensure individual states could maintain control over who was allowed to vote.

But it has come in for criticism. The system can distort the vote. In 1996 Bill Clinton had 49% of the popular vote but won 70% (379) of the electoral college votes.

His challenger Bob Dole had 41% of the popular vote but just 30% of the electoral college votes.

The system explains why certain states are targeted more than others by candidates.

After each of the four hurricanes which hit Florida recently, President George Bush made high-profile visits and promised aid and support.

The president is sworn in traditionally by the Chief Justice at an inauguration ceremony. That will be held on January 20.

In the interim, the next president will prepare his administration and appoint officials.

The inauguration address is a key event in American politics – when the president sets out a vision and tone for his administration.

Here is a list of the states plus the District of Columbia and their electoral college votes:

:: ALABAMA 9

:: ALASKA 3

:: ARIZONA 10

:: ARKANSAS 6

:: CALIFORNIA 55