When Americans cast their votes today, they are not directly electing the presidential candidates themselves, CNN states, explaining that voters are casting ballots for competing slates of “electors” who will in turn cast the actual votes for president and vice president on December 17.

Collectively, the electors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are referred to as the “Electoral College”, CNN notes.

The presidential candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote on election night does not necessarily win the White House. In order to win the presidency, a candidate must win a majority of votes in the Electoral College.

Read an explanation about the US 2024 election here.