With just four days to go until Americans head to the polls on 5 November, the race is a showdown between former president Donald Trump, aiming for a comeback, and current vice president Kamala Harris, hoping to secure a historic win as the first female president.

You may remember your own experience during the recent National elections on 29 May — those were straightforward, right? You cast your vote and it went directly towards getting the party you wanted to see in office.

But in the United States it’s a bit more complicated, relying on a system that can leave even the most seasoned political enthusiasts scratching their heads. So, let’s unpack this American voting puzzle together! From the electoral college to swing states, here’s everything you need to know about how the U.S. elects its president.

What’s up with the Electoral College?

You might think that when Americans vote for their president and vice president, they’re casting their ballots directly for the candidates. But here’s the twist: they’re actually voting for electors in their state, who then cast the real votes for these top offices. This quirky system is called the Electoral College, and it’s been a topic of much debate and discussion over the years.

Here’s how it works: There are 538 electors in total, and a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win. Each state has a certain number of electors based on its population. For example, California, being the most populous state, has 55 electoral votes. Meanwhile, smaller states like Wyoming have only three.

In most states, it’s a winner-takes-all scenario. If a candidate wins the majority of votes in a state, they get all of that state’s electoral votes. This means if 50.1% of a state votes for one candidate, it counts the same as if they received 100%. The only exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which use a proportional system that divides electoral votes based on district results.

The popular vote vs. the electoral vote

This is where things can get tricky. The candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide doesn’t necessarily win the presidency. It’s happened before: in 2016, Hillary Clinton received nearly three million more votes than Donald Trump, but Trump won the electoral college and the presidency. A similar thing occurred in 2000, when George W. Bush defeated Al Gore despite Gore winning more votes overall.

This discrepancy raises eyebrows that the Electoral College system can give more weight to certain states over others. Changing it would require a constitutional amendment, which is no small feat.

Swing States: Where It All Happens

In U.S. elections, the fate of the country often lies in the hands of a select few states: the swing states. These battleground states are highly competitive, with neither Democrats nor Republicans having a stronghold, making them critical in the race for the White House.

Due to the Electoral College’s winner-takes-all structure (with the exception of two states), winning these swing states becomes essential for reaching the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Because of this, candidates focus intensely on the states that could easily tip to either side.

With the US elections just days aways here are the swing states to watch: 

1. Arizona: 11 electoral votes

2. Georgia: 16 electoral votes

3. Michigan: 15 electoral votes

4. Nevada: 6 electoral votes

5. North Carolina: 16 electoral votes

6. Pennsylvania: 19 electoral votes

7. Wisconsin: 10 electoral votes

In both 2016 and 2020, slim margins in these battleground states decided the presidency. Trump’s 2016 win relied on just 77,000 votes across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Biden’s 2020 triumph was similarly precarious, with only 44,000 votes in Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin securing his victory.

As the U.S. elections approach, with just four days left, all eyes are on what many analysts predict to be one of the tightest races in American history. This election could hinge on just a few thousand votes in key swing states, reflecting the razor-thin margins that determined past outcomes.

While South Africans cast our votes directly for our preferred parties, the U.S. relies on the Electoral College, where the outcome can sometimes diverge from the popular vote. With such intense competition and high stakes, every voter’s choice could tip the balance of power. 

The world will be watching to see whether Trump or Harris emerge victorious in this tightly contested election.