Trump presidency faces Electoral College test from opponents

The US Electoral College is expected to certify Donald Trump as president on Monday, despite a last-minute effort to thwart the Republican. The institution’s 538 electors voted at state capitols nationwide. A handful of Democratic electors have been organising a longshot bid to persuade their Republican counterparts to cast ballots against Mr Trump. The process […]

The US Electoral College is expected to certify Donald Trump as president on Monday, despite a last-minute effort to thwart the Republican.
The institution’s 538 electors voted at state capitols nationwide.
A handful of Democratic electors have been organising a longshot bid to persuade their Republican counterparts to cast ballots against Mr Trump.
The process is usually a formality, but takes place this year amid claims Russian hackers tried to sway the vote.
Technically, Americans cast votes on Election Day for electors, not the candidates themselves.
The electors are mostly elected officials or party functionaries whose names are not on the ballot.
There are 538 electors in all, one for each member of Congress. A candidate needs to take at least 270 electoral votes – half of the total plus one – to win the White House. Mr Trump won 306 electors from 30 states.