A significant surge of early voting has been witnessed in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, with millions of Americans expected to cast their votes by the time the polls close on Election Day. However, it’s important to remember that it is not the overall popular vote that determines the winner of the presidency, but rather the outcomes dictated by the Electoral College.
The Electoral College consists of 538 votes, with a majority of 270 required to secure the presidency. Most states operate under a winner-takes-all system, meaning that the candidate who receives the most votes in a state claims all of that state’s electoral votes. Notably, only Maine and Nebraska have systems in place that allow for splitting their electoral votes.
The electoral contest is likely to focus on several battleground states where the voter base is nearly evenly split. Pennsylvania holds the largest share of electoral votes at 19, followed by North Carolina and Georgia, each with 16 electoral votes. Other key states include Michigan with 15, Arizona with 11, Wisconsin with 10, and Nevada with 6.
The allocation of Electoral College votes is determined by each state’s total number of U.S. senators and representatives. Hence, every state has a minimum of three electoral votes, while those with larger populations receive more. The District of Columbia is also allocated three votes, despite not having any voting representation in Congress.
Population shifts can lead to changes in the number of electoral votes each state holds, resulting from congressional redistricting following the 2020 U.S. Census. As a result, six states gained at least one additional electoral vote, while seven states saw a decrease.
California, being the most populous state, leads with 54 electoral votes. This translates to one elector per roughly 732,189 residents. Texas follows with 40 electoral votes, then Florida with 30, and New York with 28.
On the other end of the spectrum, six states, including Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming, hold the smallest electoral vote count at three each. Washington, D.C. also has three electoral votes. In Wyoming, this means there is one elector for every approximately 182,283 residents.
In this election cycle, Texas gained two additional electoral votes, making a total of 40, up from 38 in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, six other states, including Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon, each gained one electoral vote.
Conversely, seven states experienced a loss of one electoral vote: California, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
As early voting continues to set records, it’s clear that voter engagement is strong leading into the presidential election, which may bode well for a competitive and vibrant political process ahead. Each ballot cast represents not just a vote, but a voice and a stake in the future of the nation.
Overall, as citizens actively participate in the democratic process, there is hope that this engagement will lead to informed decision-making and a strong turnout on Election Day, enhancing the vitality of American democracy.