The Electoral College is a room full of academic looking people behind desks, right? Who are these people, so pivotal in the most recent elections? In reality, this long standing institution is a process, not a place. Sen. Fred Risser is one of many faces that make up Wisconsin’s electoral process, the backbone of America’s presidential system.

Sen. Risser, the longest serving state lawmaker in the country, has been in the state Senate since 1962. He was selected as a Wisconsin elector in 1964.

Sen. Risser is one of 10 state electors. The nation’s total is 538. Selection of electors is determined by the party’s nominating committee. Typically, they will choose people the party would like to recognize. They also consider whether candidates will vote according to party desires. Sen. Risser says he can’t speak for other parties or states, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin considers racial and gender diversity in its selection decisions.

This year’s Electors Nominating Convention took place in Madison on Oct. 2. The convention was poorly attended, as they frequently are, according to Sen. Risser. Political parties already have a list they would like to see selected, and there is little controversy. Sen. Risser believes electors see their role as support to the voters and not significant in and of itself.

The US Constitution, federal law and state statutes control the work of the Electoral College. Electors are expected to cast their ballot for the candidate they were chosen to elect, but there is no penalty if they don’t. Sen. Risser has seen the electoral process called into question recently, in 2000. One hotly-contested electoral vote from Florida went to George Bush rather than Al Gore, and Bush became president.

Most states use a winner-take-all electoral system. All votes go to the candidate with the largest number, but not necessarily the majority. In Maine and Nebraska, electors are required to vote with the largest number of votes in their congressional district.

Organizations like Fairvote.org think that the Electoral College system no longer serves America. Sen. Risser’s response to these challenges is passionate, stating we are “not going to change the Constitution very easily.” He believes the Electoral College still has purpose. It protects the smaller states with little impact if presidents were elected by popular vote. Concerns over leaving the decision to Congress are the same now as at America’s founding: deal-making and special interests may influence the vote.

Risser suggests that, if people are unhappy with the current voting system, they should push for national voting criteria. States need clear and identical criteria for how the electors must vote, whether that is winner-take-all, or breakdown by congressional district. This could avoid confusion and prevent court battles from deciding the election winner.

Ultimately, this elector’s message is to “Get out and vote.” The individual’s vote is what counts and, as we saw in the recent elections, even very few votes can make a difference.