<P> No constitutional provision or federal law requires electors to vote according to the results of their state 's popular vote , though some states bind their electors to their pledges by state law . Historically , there have been only a few instances of `` faithless electors '' casting their ballots for a candidate to whom they were not pledged , and such instances have never resulted in changing the final outcome of a presidential election . The popular vote does not declare the presidency but the Electoral College vote does . Even if the popular vote goes to one candidate , another may win the electoral vote and the presidency , as has happened in 1876 , 1888 , 2000 and 2016 . </P>
<P> No constitutional provision or federal law requires electors to vote according to the results of their state 's popular vote , though some states bind their electors to their pledges by state law . Historically , there have been only a few instances of `` faithless electors '' casting their ballots for a candidate to whom they were not pledged , and such instances have never resulted in changing the final outcome of a presidential election . The popular vote does not declare the presidency but the Electoral College vote does . Even if the popular vote goes to one candidate , another may win the electoral vote and the presidency , as has happened in 1876 , 1888 , 2000 and 2016 . </P>
who elect the president of the united states
who elect the president of the united states
the Electoral College
the Electoral College