Electoral votes are the Main factor in American presidential elections and the electoral vote differs with states. It simply means states with more population have more electoral votes and congressional representatives ( House members and senators).
1. Electrol votes
In the United States, districts are divided based on population. There are a total of 435 districts in the United States. Each district elects a member of the House of Representatives, and each district carries one electoral vote for the presidential election.
This means 435 districts are equivalent to 435 electoral votes. The number of districts varies across states, with California having a total of 52 districts and 6 states having a single district.
- winner Takes All
In 48 states and Washington state and Washington DC district, a candidate who wins the popular vote of state will get all the electoral votes of that state. For example, California has 54 districts(54 electoral votes) and if a candidate gains the most popular votes throughout the state, he will take all the electoral votes of that state. States where this system operates are:
1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii
12. Idaho
13. Illinois
14. Indiana
15. Lowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maina
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Taxes
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming
Every ten years, the US adjusts the number of electoral votes of each state based on the latest census. From the above information, we can conclude that 435 districts are equal to 435 electoral votes but the total electoral vote in the presidential election is 538.
From each state, 2 senators were elected and each senator held one electoral vote. It means 50 states elect 100 senators weighing 100 electoral votes for the presidential election.
Now we have a total of 435(House of Representatives) and 100( senators) weighing 535 electoral votes and again 3 electoral votes are from Washington, D.C ( a district of Columbia). Now finally we have a total of 538 electoral votes for the American presidential election.
conclusion :
435 districts = 435 House of Representatives = 435 electoral votes
50 states = 100 senators (two from each state) = 100 electoral votes
Washington, D.C. (a district of Columbia) = 3 electoral votes
any candidate who gains a majority in this electoral votes will be the United States of America president.