Final answer:
A federalist structure in the context of the Electoral College is a system of government with power divided between central and state authorities. The Electoral College helps preserve it by giving states proportional representation in presidential elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
A federalist structure in the context of the Electoral College is a system of government with power divided between central and state authorities. This means that the central government and the states share power and have their own distinct areas of authority. The Electoral College helps preserve this federalist structure by giving states proportional representation in presidential elections. Each state is assigned a number of electors based on their representation in Congress, which means that smaller states have a proportionally larger influence in the election.