I had a poliwag . You guys got lucky <| sep |> Just to drive the point home . Each State shall appoint , in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct , a Number of Electors , equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress but no Senator or Representative , or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States , shall be appointed an Elector . A state legislature could decide to hold a beauty pageant and allow the winner to choose electors . Or more realistically , they could appoint electors themselves . Or they could allow the governor to choose electors . Or they could give 2 electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote , and then allow each congressional district to select an elector independently . which is exactly what Maine and Nebraska do .