What could happen if a candidate wins the popular vote in the election?

The scenario where a candidate wins the popular vote but does not win the presidency is made possible by the structure of the Electoral College system established in the United States Constitution. While winning the popular vote indicates that more individuals voted for the candidate, the final decision on the presidency is determined by the Electoral College, which consists of electors allocated to each state based on their population and representation in Congress.

Each state has a specific number of electoral votes, and when citizens cast their votes, they are technically voting for a slate of electors pledged to the candidate rather than for the candidate directly. In many states, the system is winner-takes-all, meaning that the candidate who receives the most popular votes in that state gets all of its electoral votes. Therefore, it is entirely possible for a candidate to have a majority of individual votes nationwide yet receive fewer electoral votes than their opponent, leading to a loss in the Electoral College and ultimately losing the presidency.

This unique dynamic highlights the distinction between the popular vote and the official mechanism through which the presidency is awarded, underscoring the importance of understanding both electoral processes.