The Electoral College consists of 538 Electors (one for each of 435 U.S. Representatives and 100 U.S. Senators, and three for the District of Columbia). Each state has the same number of electors as it does Members of Congress (Representatives and Senators). In most states, each political party selects a slate of electors, and the electors pledged to the candidate who won the most popular votes are elected to the Electoral College.
Certificates of Ascertainment
Immediately after Election Day, the Governors of each state and the Mayor of the District of Columbia prepare Certificates of Ascertainment that identify their slate of electors. The states send these certificates by registered mail to the Archivist of the United States who is required by law to administer the Electoral College. As the Archivist and the Office of the Federal Register receive the Certificates of Ascertainment from each state, attorneys check them for facial legal sufficiency. When all certificates are received, the Federal Register makes copies available for public inspection and transmits certificates to each House of Congress.Certificates of Vote
The electors meet in each state on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The votes are documented on Certificates of Vote, and the execution of these certificates is witnessed by the Governor, who sends the certificates to the President of the Senate and the Archivist of the United States. As the Certificates of Vote are delivered to the National Archives, attorneys examine the certificates for legal sufficiency. They then make copies available to the public and secure the originals.Certificates of Vote Transmitted to Congress
The next step at the National Archives is to ensure the Certificates of Vote have been delivered to Congress. The states are required to send certificates directly to the President of the Senate, where they are held under seal until January 6, when Congress opens and counts them in joint session. The Archivist is responsible for ensuring in advance that the certificates are properly executed and that all Electoral Votes are accounted for. If the President of the Senate has not received copies of the Certificates of Vote sent by the states, the Archivist provides sealed copies.Preserving Certificates of Vote
After the Certificates of Vote are opened and tabulated in a Joint Session of Congress, they are placed in the permanent custody of the National Archives. The National Archives preserves Electoral College documents dating from 1789.For more information about the Electoral College, read The Electoral College System – Who really elects the President of the United States?
