Presidents are elected?
US citizens vote on the first Tuesday in November at the general
election to elect the various members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives as well as state and local government
officials.
The elected members of the Federal Congress (Senate and House of
Representatives) carry Electoral College votes from their home
states, usually based on the majority party winner in each states
polls.
The President is elected by polling the votes each state brings
to the Electoral College.
In this day of televised counting and recounting the outcome of
the Electoral College vote can be predicted before the college
meets, but can still not be a guaranteed foregone conclusion, any
state can change how it votes at the Electoral College - there is
nothing in the constitution that binds it representatives to the
Electoral College to vote along party political lines. It simply
customary to do so.