EITHER Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will be chosen as the next US president in just over a week, but how does the US electoral system work?
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| Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton must clinch 270 Electoral College votes to win the US election |
The two presidential candidates are neck-and-neck in the latest opinion polls as the presidential race draws to a close.
Mrs Clinton’s double digit lead has evaporated after revelations that the FBI is examining more emails relevant to an investigation into her use of a private email server.
In the final full week of the campaign, the candidates are set to target key battleground states in order to win all-important Electoral College votes.
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is a body of electors who decide who will become the next US president.
There are 538 electors – one for each of the US’s 100 senators and 435 representatives, with an additional three electors for the District of Columbia.
What does 270 to win mean?
In order to become President of the US, either candidate must win a majority of the electoral college votes – at least 270.
The most recent Electoral College round-up from RealClear Politics tips Mrs Clinton to win 263 votes to Mr Trump’s 164 – with 111 as yet undecided.
How does the electoral college work?
Rather than directly voting for candidates, citizens actually cast their ballots to choose an elector who in turn votes on behalf of the state.
Following the election, the Electors will meet on Monday December 19 to formally vote for the next President and Vice President.
In all but two states, the candidate who tops the popular vote is awarded all of the states electors.
In Nebraska and Maine the winner is given the first two electoral votes, with the rest allocated on a district by district basis.
Electors are not legally bound to vote for the candidate that they have pledged to back in 24 states, but it would be highly unorthodox for an elector to go against the popular vote.
Votes will be formally counted on January 6, 2017 with the result announced by the President of the Senate and the current Vice President Joe Biden.
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| Joe Biden will announce the results of the Electoral College votes as he did in 2012 |
Can a candidate lose the popular vote but win the Electoral College?
It is possible that either candidate could lose the popular vote but still be elected as President but highly unlikely.
In 2000, George W Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore by a fraction of a percentage point, but won the Electoral College with 271 votes to 266 after a lengthy dispute over Florida’s votes, which Mr Bush won by a scant margin of 537 votes.
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http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/727149/us-election-2016-270-to-win-electoral-college-work
