What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

The purpose of the Electoral College is to formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Established by the Constitution, this system consists of a set of electors from each state who gather following the national election to cast their votes for these offices. The Electoral College was created as a compromise between electing the President by a vote in Congress and by popular vote.

Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress, which means larger states have more influence in the election process than smaller states. Ultimately, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes to be declared the winner of the presidential election. This mechanism is significant because it not only captures the state-by-state voting process but also ensures that the selection of the President and Vice President involves participation from different regions of the country.

The other choices, while related to elections, describe different functions that are not fulfilled by the Electoral College. Conducting national elections is a broader responsibility typically managed by various governmental bodies and agencies rather than a specific structure like the Electoral College. Similarly, representing state interests in Congress is a function of elected Senators and Representatives. Overseeing the county election process refers to the local administration of elections and is not connected