How does the US electoral system work?

The US electoral system is complex, but here are the basics:

Every four years, US citizens go to the polls to elect a president. The US president is not elected by popular vote but by an electoral college. Each state is assigned a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress, and the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state gets all of that state's electoral votes.

There are 538 electors in total, and a candidate needs to win at least 270 of them to become president. If no candidate reaches the 270 mark, the decision goes to the House of Representatives. Each state has one vote in this case, and the candidate who wins the majority of the state votes wins the election.

The US also has a two-party system, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party being the two major political parties. Third-party candidates can also run for president, but they have historically not been successful in winning the presidency.

Voters in the US also elect members of Congress, including senators and representatives. Senators serve six-year terms, while representatives serve two-year terms. The US Congress is responsible for making laws and overseeing the work of the executive branch of government.

The US electoral system has come under criticism in recent years for being outdated and undemocratic. Some have called for reforms to the system, such as abolishing the electoral college and implementing a national popular vote.