Which state has the most electoral votes and why?

Answer 1

No state has any electoral votes at all. The electors have the votes, not the states. The state legislatures determine how the electors are chosen, but states do not have electoral votes. Neither does the constitution say that states tell electors how to vote.

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Some clarification...

The electors might have the votes, but each state has an allocation of electors which is determined by the total number of Representatives and Senators each state has. Washington DC is allocated 3 electors. California's allocation of 55 electors is the largest because - as of the 2010 census - California has the largest population. Florida and New York are tied at 29 electors each. Note that the population census includes everyone, not just U.S. citizens.

In the process of selecting electors, generally each political party in each state selects a slate of potential electors - although that can vary by state. Then, on Election Day, voters who are voting for a candidate are actually voting for that candidate's slate of potential electors. Some states include the name of the potential electors on the ballot.

There is no Constitutional requirement nor Federal law that says how the electors must vote, but each state can have its own requirements.

Answer 2

California