The 538 members of the US Electoral College meets this Monday in the capital of each of the 50 states to designate who becomes the successor of Barack Obama as the president of the United States.
Even though the November 8 general election saw Donald Trump win the highest electoral votes. His victory will now be confirmed after the Electoral college carry out their elections.

A candidate must obtain an absolute majority of the vote — or 270 of the 538 to claim the presidency. Trump is tipped to win the highest votes. No candidate in US history that lost the general election succeeded in winning in getting the votes of the electoral college.

As the 538 members of the Electoral College meet across each state to elect the president and vice president in their state capitols, expectations are high as supporters of Hillary Clinton are hoping for a comeback. While it is possible that few electors who are pledged to Trump could decide to vote for Clinton or another candidate, there is every likelihood that Trump will get the 270 electoral votes he needs to win.

Penalties are usually imposed on rogue electors, According to the National Conference of State Legislatures on its website, “Some states have passed laws that require their electors to vote as pledged. These laws may either impose a fine on an elector who fails to vote according to the statewide or district popular vote, or may disqualify an elector who violates his or her pledge and provide a replacement elector

the states have until December 28 to transmit their “Certificates of Vote” to the Congress and the National Archives in Washington, while the formal announcement of the name of the next president will be made by the Congress on January 6.

Source: http://www.naijasilvergold.com/blog/2016/12/19/electoral-college-gather-elect-next-president/