US History

Electoral College

A group of representatives (electors) chosen to formally elect the president and vice president of the United States.

Voting Process in the Electoral College

When you vote for the president, you are actually voting for an elector to vote for you.

Number of Electors per State

A state's number of electors is the sum of its Senators (2) and Representatives in the House.

Total Electoral Votes

There are 538 electoral votes: 100 Senators + 435 House Representatives + 3 from the District of Columbia.

Minimum Electoral Votes for D.C.

The District of Columbia is allocated a minimum of 3 electoral votes.

Winner Takes All Method

48 out of 50 states use a method where the candidate receiving the most votes gets all of that state's electoral votes.

States that Split Votes

Maine and Nebraska are the two states that can divide their electoral votes.

Minimum Votes to Win the Presidency

A candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election.

Popular Votes vs. Electoral Votes

It is possible for a candidate to receive more popular votes and still lose the election, as popular votes do not determine the winner.

House of Representatives Role

If no candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives votes to decide the president.