The electoral college plays a critical role in the U.S. presidential election system by formally electing the president and vice president. Comprised of electors from each state, the electoral college system allocates votes based on state populations, with a total of 538 electoral votes. Candidates must secure a majority of these votes (at least 270) to win the presidency. This mechanism can lead to scenarios where a candidate wins the popular vote but loses the election, raising debates about its fairness and relevance in contemporary democracy.