In the United States, the president isn't elected by popular vote. When American voters go to the polls on Tuesday, November 5 to choose their preferred candidate, they are in fact voting for their state's electors, whose votes ultimately determine the results of the election. There are 538 electors in the Electoral College, and a candidate needs at least 270 votes to win. But there's a twist: The number of electors changes depending on the state. Le Monde explains how the US voting system works state-by-state and nationally, and the consequences of this electoral process.

To learn more about the US election, watch our video about the role and importance of swing states below.