text: There have been multiple instances in which the electoral college has saved many elections due to the fact that the popular vote was too close. This "college" consists of multiple slates of electors. These electors are really who we vote for when we vote for president. Every 'state' including the District of Columbia are allocated a certain amount of electors. These electors then vote for whoever won the popular vote in that state despite the other sides views. This is called a "winner-take-all" system. Yet there are two states, Maine and Nebraska, that have a "proportional representation" system. When it is done the governor creates a "Certificate of Ascertainment" which basically is the official way of declaring who in that state won the vote.