Electoral College begins its work

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Winning the popular vote in the presidential election has ended for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama; now the Electoral College takes the stage.

The ritual casting of electoral votes in all 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia was scheduled to begin Monday, the first of a two-step process to certify Obama's election as the United States' 44th president, CQ Today reported.

The second part of the process is scheduled for Jan. 8, about a week before Obama takes the oath of office, when the electoral votes will be counted in a joint session of the 111th Congress.

With a 53 percent-to-46 percent win over Republican Sen. John McCain Nov. 4, Obama was the clear victor in the popular vote. Obama also will carry a good majority of electoral votes as well. He is estimated to receive 365 votes to173 votes for McCain, based on state tallies of the popular vote, CQ Today said.