When you vote in a presidential election, your ballot includes not just the president and vice president, but also other federal, state, county and local offices. Those elected in those positions will determine many aspects of your life, from the quality of the roads in your neighborhood to the amount of resources that go toward your local schools. The Founders created this system in order to ensure careful and calm deliberation before appointing the President.
During the presidential election season, people with similar ideas come together in political parties. These parties hold events called primaries and caucuses. Candidates who get the most votes in these events are selected to represent their party at the national conventions. Once the nominees are chosen, they begin campaigning in earnest. They travel the country and participate in televised debates to discuss their policies with other candidates.
The electoral college prevents candidates from focusing solely on high population areas and dense media markets, which would leave large segments of the American electorate unheard and unseen. This was a concern of the Founders who feared the possibility of a “tyranny of the majority.”
On December 12 (or January 20 if the date falls on a Sunday), the electoral college meets to formally cast their votes for president and vice president. Each State prepares a Certificate of Electoral Votes that lists the names of the individuals who were appointed as your State’s electors. This document is sent to NARA as part of the official records of the presidential election.