Understanding the U.S. Electoral College: How Votes Get Allocated and Win the Presidency

The U.S. presidential election system operates through a complex mechanism known as the Electoral College. This system not only determines how votes get allocated but also how a candidate wins the presidency. Here, we will explore the intricacies of the Electoral College, the allocation of electors, and the process of winning the presidency.

Introduction to the Electoral College

The Electoral College is a process in which electors vote to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors equivalent to the total number of its U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives. The number of representatives changes based on the state's population, as determined by the decennial census. This means that states gain or lose electoral votes every ten years based on their population growth or decline.

The Allocation of Electors

Each state has a set number of electors. Every state has exactly two U.S. Senators, and the number of U.S. Representatives is determined by the state's population. As of the 2020 election, California had 53 U.S. Representatives, making its total number of electors 55. The smallest state, such as Vermont, has only one U.S. Representative, giving it a total of three electors. Thus, the number of electors per state ranges from three (for the smallest states) to 55 (for California).

Instead of electors, the District of Columbia is allocated an additional three electors, making the total number of electors in the Electoral College 538. A candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency.

How Votes Are Allocated Within Each State

In the majority of states, the Electoral College operates on a “ winner-takes-all” basis. This means that the candidate who wins the most votes within a state receives all of the state’s electoral votes. This rule simplifies the counting process and often aligns with the popular vote.

However, in some states, the allocation of electoral votes can be more complicated. Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system, where the state's largest House district's winner receives one electoral vote, while the statewide winner receives two electoral votes. This can result in a split of electoral votes.

The Process of Awarding Electoral Votes

After the general election, if a candidate wins a state by popular vote, that candidate wins all of the state's electoral votes. The popular vote winner is typically determined by a proportional allocation. If the popular vote results in a tie, a state's legislature can legally choose its electors, although this rarely happens.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the House of Representatives would select a President if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes. In this scenario, each state delegation in the House gets one vote, potentially resulting in a scenario where a president could be elected with a single electoral vote.

Eleven-Year Census and Electoral Changes

Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a national census to count the population of the country. This census is crucial because it determines the number of House Representatives each state receives and, consequently, the number of electors each state has. In the 2020 Census, seven states lost one House seat, five states gained one House seat, and Texas gained two seats. These changes reflect the population changes in different regions of the country.

The Electoral College system is designed to ensure that each state's voice is heard in the presidential election process. Its complexity and the decennial changes ensure a dynamic and representative system that adapts to population shifts.