What is the role of the Electoral College in the presidential election?

The role of the Electoral College in the presidential election is to formally elect the President and Vice President. This system, established by the U.S. Constitution, consists of a group of electors from each state, who are chosen based on the popular vote within that state. When citizens cast their votes during the presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to vote for their chosen candidate.

After the general election, these electors meet in their respective state capitals to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The results of this voting are then certified and sent to Congress, where the official count takes place, ultimately resulting in the official election of the President and Vice President. This structure is essential to the U.S. electoral process as it reflects both the popular will of the voters in each state while also balancing the influence of smaller states in the overall outcome.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of the Electoral College. Informing voters, conducting presidential debates, and monitoring election security are important aspects of the electoral process, but these tasks fall to different entities and procedures unrelated to the direct function of electing the President and Vice President.