Final answer:
The first step in the Electoral College process is the popular vote, which occurs on Election Day in November and decides which electors will represent each state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the Electoral College process is C) the popular vote. During a presidential election in the United States, voters do not directly elect the president but rather choose electors who are pledged to vote for a particular candidate later in the Electoral College. The popular vote takes place on Election Day in November, where the majority vote in each state, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, determines which party's electors will cast the official Electoral College votes for that state.