How does the Electoral College work?

Under the US Constitution, voters in each state choose electors rather than voting directly for president. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress, and Washington DC gets 3, for a total of 538: 435 for the House, 100 for the Senate and 3 for DC. A candidate needs a majority of 270 to win. In 48 states and DC, the candidate who wins the popular vote takes all of the electoral votes, while Maine and Nebraska split theirs by congressional district. Electors formally vote in December, and Congress counts the votes on 6 January. If no one wins a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president, with each state delegation casting one vote.