Four years ago during the 2020 election, more than 158 million people cast ballots for the presidential election.
However, the popular vote does not determine who becomes the President.
The winner of the election comes down to the Electoral College.
When you go out to vote for president and vice president, your vote goes to a statewide tally.
Typically, the candidate with the most votes in a state will receive all of the state's electoral college votes.
This system is in place here in Nevada, as well as 47 other states and Washington D.C.
However, in Maine and Nebraska, there are split votes, which means two electoral votes are given to the popular vote winner, and then one electoral vote goes to the winner of each congressional district.
Each state has a different number of electoral college votes, and it is based off how many seats in Congress the state has.
Every state automatically gets two electoral votes because we all have two senators.
However, the rest is based on how many representatives are in the house, and that number is determined by the state's population.
Larger states such as California have 54 electoral votes, and here in Nevada we have six.
In total, there are 538 electoral votes, and to become president, a candidate must win the majority, which is at least 270.
On election day, states will begin calling races as the numbers come in after the polls close.
States have until December 10th to finalize any disputes they may have.
On December 17th, electors will meet to cast their ballots for president.
Finally, on January 6th, Congress will meet to certify the election and make the winner of the presidential election official.
