Welcome to BET's live coverage of Election Night 2024. As Americans cast their votes, we bring you real-time updates on the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, along with key Senate, House, and gubernatorial contests nationwide. Stay tuned for the latest results and insights into the pivotal moments shaping this historic election. With 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election, our interactive map will show the breakdown throughout the day.

Here's a breakdown of how the Electoral College works.

The Electoral College is the mechanism established by the U.S. Constitution for electing the President and Vice President. It comprises 538 electors, with each state allocated a number equal to its total representation in Congress (Senators plus Representatives). The District of Columbia is also granted three electors, bringing the total to 538.

Key Aspects of the Electoral College:

• Elector Allocation: Each state's number of electors equals its total number of Senators (always 2) and Representatives (which varies based on population). For example, California, with 53 Representatives and 2 Senators, has 55 electoral votes.
• Selection of Electors: Political parties in each state typically select slates of potential electors before the general election. The process for choosing these electors varies by state.
• Voting Process: On Election Day, voters cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidate. In reality, they are voting for a slate of electors pledged to that candidate. Most states employ a "winner-takes-all" system, where the candidate with the majority of the popular vote in that state secures all its electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska use a proportional approach, allocating electoral votes based on both statewide and congressional district results.
• Electoral Vote Majority: A candidate must obtain at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. If no candidate achieves this majority, the decision moves to Congress. The House of Representatives elects the President, with each state delegation having one vote, while the Senate elects the Vice President, with each Senator casting one vote.
• Meeting of Electors: Electors convene in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President. These votes are then sent to Congress for counting.
• Certification of Results: In early January, a joint session of Congress counts the electoral votes. The Vice President, serving as President of the Senate, announces the results, officially declaring the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

This system was designed to balance the influence between populous and less populous states, ensuring that presidential candidates must appeal to a broad spectrum of the electorate across the nation.