The electoral college are scheduled to meet today to make President-elect Donald Trump’s presidency official.
All 538 members, who were chosen by the Democrats or Republicans to carry their state for their perspective candidate will cast their ballot and wrap up the rest of the election drama that has occurred since Trump was elected by the people’s popular vote last month.
Trump’s victory is not, as he has described it, a landslide. He is expected to garner just 56.9% of the electoral vote, assuming all electors vote according to their states’ results. That will give Trump the 44th-largest share of the electoral vote out of 54 presidential elections since the modern system started in 1804.
There’s no national meeting of the Electoral College. Instead, electors gather in each state — usually in the Capitol. Under federal law, though, electors must gather on December 19. And each elector must sign six copies certifying their votes for president and vice president.
Two ballots go to the National Archives. One goes to the president of the Senate. Two go to their state’s chief elections officer. And one goes to a local judge.
After Monday’s votes, there is still one last step: On January 6, Congress has to officially count the electoral votes. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the count.
