The Electoral College was a compromise written into the U. S. Constitution in 1787, with the result that the President and Vice President are not elected directly by the people but by Presidential Electors. Electing the President indirectly through the Electoral College rather than directly by the voters was seen by the founders as a hedge against “popular passion”.
The number of each state’s Electors is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives a state has in Congress. Pennsylvania has 20, and each political party’s presidential nominee has chosen that number of Presidential Electors committed to the nominee. The candidate receiving the highest number of popular votes gets the state’s entire electoral vote.
For further information on the Electoral College see:
- National Archives for a history of how the Electoral College has worked in various elections
- The Federal Election Commission for an explanation of how the Electoral College functions
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Electoral College
- The League of Women Voters position on abolishing the Electoral College