How does a person win a presidential election?

A person wins a Presidential election in America slightly different from what most people think. Most people would tell you that the citizens vote and all votes are accounted for and whichever candidate receives the most votes is the President. However, the President is in fact selected by the electoral college. This is an uncommon occurrence but in the event that the popular vote (the citizens vote) differs from the electoral college, then the President is selected by the electoral college. So in reality citizens votes don't mean anything.