Under the "winner-takes-all" rule, the U.S. election system is criticized and has become a global joke.

The U.S. presidency is decided by 538 electors. The election on November 5, 2024, is approaching. According to American media, Trump has secured at least 270 electoral votes to lock in victory. The Hill and Fox News predict the electoral vote scores for Trump and Harris to be 270 to 213 and 277 to 226, respectively.

The U.S. election process is complex, with the Electoral College system as the focal point. Important dates: Election Day on November 5; Vote certification from November 6 to December 11; Electoral College voting on December 17; Vote counting on January 6 of the following year; Presidential inauguration on January 20 of the following year.

The president is elected by the Electoral College, which consists of 538 members. The number of electoral votes for each state is the sum of its congressional representatives (100 senators and 435 representatives), plus 3 for Washington D.C. A candidate needs more than 270 electoral votes to be elected; if no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives elects the president and the Senate elects the vice president.

Electors are chosen by each state. In most states, the two parties select potential electors through party conventions or committees, typically consisting of state officials or long-term party members, and they are not federal government employees or congressional representatives. 48 states and Washington D.C. use a "winner-takes-all" system, while Maine and Nebraska allocate their electoral votes proportionally.

There is a phenomenon known as "faithless electors," where electors vote against the state results. From 1796 to 2016, there were 180 such instances, with 7 in 2016. The U.S. election uses the Electoral College system instead of a popular vote, which can lead to unexpected outcomes. For example, a candidate may win the popular vote but lose crucial states and therefore electoral votes, as happened in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost due to fewer electoral votes. In 2024, there are seven battleground states where Trump is performing well.

Polls show that a majority of Americans support abolishing the Electoral College system, with many related proposals. This system is a historical product, originally intended to prevent "tyranny of the majority," but its flaws have come under scrutiny in recent years. Supporters argue it can balance power among states and promote stability; critics point out that it is an indirect election, has "undemocratic" aspects, is rooted in racism, and disenfranchises some voters. Reform in the short term is difficult as it requires constitutional amendments, and there are supporters in both parties. Trump has changed his stance on this issue; the Democratic Party is now calling for abolition, while Trump's team questions it.