The unique Electoral College system in the United States.

If you're interested in the U.S. presidential elections, you might be familiar with many so-called "national polls," or heard news reports about a certain candidate leading nationwide.

However, these polls with the word "national" in them actually do not have decisive significance and may even be misleading in judging the election results.

Behind all this is the United States' unique electoral system—the Electoral College.

Unlike most democratic countries in the world that directly elect their head of state through a simple majority popular vote, the U.S. employs a different method.

While the U.S. also has what's called a presidential "popular vote," this "popular vote" actually only determines the voting object of each state's Electoral College.

The Electoral College is composed of representatives from each state, with the number of representatives from each state based on its congressional delegation.

Each state, in addition to having two senators, also has a certain number of representatives in the House of Representatives based on its population, and the total number of these representatives determines the state's electoral votes.

For example, Texas, a Republican stronghold, will have 40 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election, while California, a Democratic stronghold, will have as many as 54 electoral votes.

This Electoral College system stems from specific historical backgrounds and needs in the United States, aimed at ensuring the interests of each state are balanced and represented in presidential elections.

However, this system has sparked controversy and criticism over the years.

Critics argue that the Electoral College system could result in a candidate winning the national popular vote but losing the presidential election, as seen in the 2000 Bush v. Gore election case.

While the Electoral College system has advantages in protecting the interests of smaller states and reflecting local diversity, it has also been widely questioned and criticized for its indirect democratic nature.

In the face of widespread preference for direct democratic decision-making in modern society, whether the U.S. electoral system needs reform has become a long-standing topic of discussion among the public and political elites.

Therefore, while the Electoral College system plays an important role in the U.S. political system and embodies unique democratic practices, it has also sparked profound reflections on the fairness and legitimacy of elections due to its complexity and indirect election characteristics.