My understanding is that the main vote is for the leader of the republican or democratic parties. Others stand but rarely have an influence (Ralph Nader?). Then each state sees who has the most votes and all the votes for the winning candidate in that state go to their nominees for next vote. Each state has representatives according to their size. So a 50.1% vote for a candidate will mean 100% of the representatives at the Electoral College. That is why the swing states are so important. Hmmm. Democracy seems to have taken a back seat here! I do not think that states have to give their votes to the winner anyway! WTF!
Then there is funding. Apparently (Guardian) this election will have cost at least $5 billion. Yes I know my spelling is not great but this is doubled with the additional campaigning for Congress. So both sides spend huge amounts of money to slag each other off in TV and social media adverts. Is the electorate so swayed by adverts? I guess so.
My own view. Trump seems rather erratic and egoist. Biden rather a nonety. The world really needs leaders at present and the only one who really qualifies is Jacinda Ardern. Although I am puzzled at how she only got 49% of the vote? Does this mean that half of New Zealanders are really stupid?