![]() ![]() To win, a candidate needs 50 percent plus one of the total 538 electors, or 270.Ģ016 was the fifth time in US history that a presidential candidate won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote. However, in 1961, a constitutional amendment was ratified, giving the District of Columbia three electoral votes, the number of votes it would receive if it was considered a state, beginning in the 1964 presidential election. The District of Columbia, where the federal government is based, is not considered a state, and has no voting representation in Congress. A state’s number of electors is determined by adding the number of US representatives plus two, the number of senators each state has. States with larger populations have a greater representation in the US House, therefore they also have a higher number of electors. There are 538 electors among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The electors then meet as an Electoral College on a specified date by federal law – “the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December next following their appointment” (on December 14 this year) – to tally their votes for president and vice president. In Maine and Nebraska, their electors are allocated based on the winner of each congressional district and the overall winner of the state. In 48 states and the District of Columbia, whichever ticket wins the most votes receives all of that state’s electors. ![]() In practice, what this means is that voters in each US state are voting for a slate of “electors”, who, after the votes are counted and certified, are pledged to vote for a presidential and vice presidential candidate. Keep reading list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Trump has a narrow path to an Electoral College victory list 2 of 3 What does the US Electoral College actually do? list 3 of 3 US Elections 2020: What is the Electoral College? end of list
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