JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri electors awarded President-elect Donald Trump with the state's 10 electoral votes at their meeting Tuesday.

While Trump won the election back in November, his victory was formalized Tuesday as presidential electors gathered in Jefferson City as part of the constitution process to officially elect a president, better known as the electoral college.

"We have a good system," State Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, said. "We have a good democracy and as Ben Franklin said, 'We have a republic if we can keep it.'"

Nearly three million Missourians voted in the presidential race in November, but it's really the state's 10 electors who actually elect the country's next leader.

"The electoral college was one of the original compromises to our constitution and it helps make sure that the voices of smaller states like Missouri are still heard," Eigel said.

As one of Missouri's 10 electors, Eigel argued that the outdated process should remain in place, despite numerous attempts to repeal it over the years.

"The electoral college is an important one and I think that how we set up our form of government is critical to how Missouri and the United States have really become an example for liberty and freedom around the globe," Eigel said.

In the audience inside the Senate Lounge Tuesday, 20-year-old Rachel Chaney attended her first electoral college meeting.

"I understand that this is a big deal in the history of our government and so I thought it would be a good opportunity to come and be a part and see how the process works," Chaney said.

She, along with dozens of others, watched as electors voted for Trump and J.D. Vance, who overwhelmingly won the popular vote in Missouri.

"I've always grown up knowing that it's very important to be a part of this process," Chaney said. "I want to be a nurse but I knew it was important, just as a citizen, to be involved and really understand what's going on."

Electors in other states around the country also met on Tuesday to vote. Congress will count the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2025.