U.S. Electoral System and Political Concepts

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Electoral College

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A group of people chosen from each state to elect the President and Vice President.

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Number of Electoral Votes to Win

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270 electoral votes are needed to win the U.S. presidency.

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Determining Electors for Each State

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Based on the state's population and the number of representatives in Congress.

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Winner-Take-All System

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The candidate with the most votes in the state receives all of the state’s electoral votes.

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Popular Vote vs. Electoral Vote

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The popular vote is the total number of votes from citizens, while the electoral vote decides who becomes President.

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Counting Electoral Votes

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The President of the Senate (Vice President) officially counts the electoral votes.

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If No Candidate Reaches 270 Votes

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The House of Representatives votes to determine the President.

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Battleground State

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A state where the outcome of the election is usually very close.

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Total Electoral Votes

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There are 538 total electoral votes in the Electoral College.

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Faithless Elector

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An elector who does not vote according to their state’s popular vote.