Why only 538 votes decide the U.S. presidency (On track)
23:51 Share

**Today's story: **America’s complicated system of choosing a president can be traced back to its origins as a union of individual states. The process involves two elections: a popular vote by citizens and an electoral vote by states. This indirect system places more emphasis on the results of the election in the individual states. Learn why Americans will cast hundreds of millions of votes, but only 538 votes really matter.

Learn this English expression: 'On track' means making progress toward a goal as planned or expected.

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/719

--

Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.

You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.

How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.

The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.

--

Did you like this episode? You'll love the full Plain English experience. Join today and unlock the fast (native-speed) version of this episode, translations in the transcripts, how-to video lessons, live conversation calls, and more. Tap/click: PlainEnglish.com/join)

Here's where else you can find us: Instagram) | YouTube) | WhatsApp) | Email)

Mentioned in this episode:

Practice what you learn (and get human feedback)

Don't just listen to the expression: put it into practice!

Every time you learn an expression at Plain English, write your own example using that expression. And then an expert English speaker will read your example and give you personal feedback on how to improve.

Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com