Who is responsible for electing the President?

The correct answer is that electors appointed by the states are responsible for electing the President. This process is defined by the Electoral College system established in the U.S. Constitution. Each state appoints a number of electors equal to its total number of senators and representatives in Congress. When citizens cast their votes in a presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to vote for their chosen candidate, rather than directly for the candidate themselves.

This system reflects the federal structure of the United States, where states have a direct role in the election of the President, balancing the influence of populous states with less populous ones. Consequently, while the American public's votes are crucial, it is ultimately the electors who cast the official votes that determine the outcome of the presidential election.