Americans
vote for their president
quite differently
than other countries.
Presidents are voted indirectly
through the Electoral College.
In this system, each state
receives a certain number of electors
which corresponds
with its population,
much like the number 
of representatives
they have
in the House of Representatives.
For example,
Minnesota has 10 electors,
but California,
which is much more populated, has 55.
Voters actually choose
a group of electors
who are pledged
to support a certain candidate.
The group of electors
that gets the majority of votes
declares the state
in favor of that candidate.
In order to win the election
a candidate must receive
an absolute majority
– 270 electoral points.
Although some people
criticize this system
as outdated in principle,
it balances state and federal power.
It also gives smaller,
less populated states
more influence in the election.
