Final answer:
The outcome of the electoral vote can differ from the outcome of the popular vote due to the winner-takes-all approach of the Electoral College. This has resulted in situations where a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election. Examples include the 2016 election where Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but Donald Trump won the Electoral College, and the 2000 election where Al Gore won the popular vote but George W. Bush won the Electoral College.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outcome of the electoral vote can differ from the outcome of the popular vote. This is because the United States uses an Electoral College system to elect the president. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all of that state's electoral votes. This winner-takes-all approach means that a candidate can win the Electoral College by winning key battleground states, even if they do not have the most overall popular votes nationwide. This has led to situations where a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote, resulting in disputes over the legitimacy of the election.
For example, in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, but Donald Trump won the Electoral College and became president. Similarly, in the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush won the Electoral College and became president. This discrepancy between the electoral vote and the popular vote has led to calls for electoral reform.