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Line 23: − Most states choose a "winner take all" system, whereby the candidate who wins the most votes in the State then receives ALL of the State's votes for president. The extremely close presidential election of 2000 between Bush and Gore illustrated how this works.+
American Government and the Constitution Lecture Three (view source)
Revision as of 04:43, September 22, 2014
, 04:43, September 22, 2014→The Electoral College: namedrop ME and NE
Today, there are a total of 538 total votes in the Electoral College, which are divided among the 50 States (plus several territories) based on a sum of their number of members in the House of Representatives and Senate. For example, New Jersey has 12 members of the House of Representatives and (like every State) has two U.S. Senators, for a total of 14 Electoral College votes. States with larger populations have a greater vote in the Electoral College: California has 55, Texas has 38, and Florida has 29.
Today, there are a total of 538 total votes in the Electoral College, which are divided among the 50 States (plus several territories) based on a sum of their number of members in the House of Representatives and Senate. For example, New Jersey has 12 members of the House of Representatives and (like every State) has two U.S. Senators, for a total of 14 Electoral College votes. States with larger populations have a greater vote in the Electoral College: California has 55, Texas has 38, and Florida has 29.
All states except for Maine and Nebraska choose a "winner take all" system, whereby the candidate who wins the most votes in the State then receives '''all''' of the State's votes for president. The extremely close presidential election of 2000 between Bush and Gore illustrated how this works.
Because there are 538 total Electoral College votes, a candidate must obtain 270 Electoral College votes in order to win. In the presidential election of 2000, not counting Florida, Al Gore was ahead with 267 Electoral College votes to George W. Bush's 246 Electoral College votes. The vote in Florida was so close that it was impossible to official declare a winner on election night.
Because there are 538 total Electoral College votes, a candidate must obtain 270 Electoral College votes in order to win. In the presidential election of 2000, not counting Florida, Al Gore was ahead with 267 Electoral College votes to George W. Bush's 246 Electoral College votes. The vote in Florida was so close that it was impossible to official declare a winner on election night.