Electoral College Votes

Monday Balloting Begins Electoral Vote Ritual to Certify Obama’s Win:

"The outcome of the 2008 presidential contest was determined late on Election Day Nov. 4, when Democrat Barack Obama claimed victory and Republican John McCain conceded. The vigorous efforts since by Obama and his transition team to fill Cabinet posts and staff the White House for his administration have kept Obama in the news on almost a daily basis, even though he won’t be sworn in to succeed outgoing Republican George W. Bush until Jan. 20.

But in a strictly technical sense, Obama hasn’t won anything yet — though the ritual casting of electoral votes in each of the 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia, scheduled to take place Monday, will begin the two-step process to certify the former Illinois senator’s election as the 44th president of the United States."