How President Is Elected In United States?

Washington: It's the election day in United States today to elect the 47th President of America as the high-pitched election campaign came to end and now its upto the voters whom they will elect for the White House. In America, a president nominee has to secure a total of 270 votes or electoral votes in order to win the election. Let's know the process:

How US President Is Elected?

United States Parliament or Capitol which is called Congress has two bodies:

1. House of Representatives | Lower Body
2. House of Senate | Upper Body 

They Sit at United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

• Members in lower body — House of Representatives —  are chosen through direct election, through citizens vote.
• Members in the Senate may be filled by a Governor's appointment.

US Congress has 538 voting members — 438 representatives and 100 senators, electoral votes increase or decrease depending on state’s population.

How President is elected?

• US Presidential candidate must secure a minimum of 270 electoral votes out of a total 538.
• One electoral vote is equal to member of the Congress a particular state has in America.
• For example, in India, every state has parliamentary seats, total of which is 543. To win election, one must secure halfway mark of 272.
• In the same way, in United States, each state has a specific electoral votes.
• US citizens don’t directly vote for Presidential candidates but for members representing major political parties.
• One member is equal to one electoral vote.
• So, whichever candidate gets the majority of 270 electoral votes, that particular candidate becomes the president-elect.
• All electoral votes go to the overall winner of the statewide popular vote, except in two states Maine and Nebraska.
• In these 2 states, electoral votes are based on winner of the popular vote in each congressional district and two additional votes go to winner of statewide popular vote.

To simplify

• One member of the Congress or electoral vote is equivalent to Member of the Parliament in India.