It is often assumed that candidates from states that have a lot of electoral votes will be well-known and, ideally, well-liked in the state they come from. (Often they have held a statewide office.) Therefore, in a presidential election, it is hoped that the candidate will have an advantage in their home state and will win its electoral votes.
Candidates need a majority of electoral votes to be elected. Because most states* award all of their electoral votes to the top candidate in that state, candidates do not need to win the national popular vote to win a majority of electoral votes. The result is that winning a few large population states (called swing states), even by a tiny margin, can guarantee election to the presidency. In 1876, 1888, and 2000, the winning candidate did not get the most popular votes nationwide.
Third party candidates have a difficult time winning electoral votes
If none of the candidates for Vice President receive a majority of electoral votes, the decision goes to the Senate. The Senate would hold a special vote to choose the Vice President from the top two candidates with the most electoral votes. Each senator gets one vote, and the candidate with a majority of votes in the Senate becomes the Vice President.
It is impossible for candidates NOT to receive electoral votes. The president is solely elected upon electoral votes. At the current point in time a candidate MUST receive at least 270 electoral votes to win. If a candidate does not receive 270 votes, the U.S, House of Representatives elects the President from among the 3 candidates receiving the most electoral votes. 12th Amendment to the constitution
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that the U.S. House of Representatives will select the president, with each of the fifty state delegations casting one vote, and the U.S. Senate will select the vice-president.
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that the U.S. House of Representatives will select the president, with each of the fifty state delegations casting one vote, and the U.S. Senate will select the vice-president.
Presidential candidates spend more time in states with larger populations because these states have more delegates. If they win these states, they will make it harder for the other candidate to win the election.
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that the U.S. House of Representatives will select the president, with each of the fifty state delegations casting one vote, and the U.S. Senate will select the vice-president.
270
Electoral votes are based on the state's population. This is why states with a lot of land can have fewer electoral votes than smaller states.
When referring to the Electoral College and Presidential elections, a candidate can win by taking: California (55 electoral votes) Texas (28 electoral votes) Florida (29 electoral votes) New York (29 electoral votes) Illinois (20 electoral votes) Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes) Ohio (18 electoral votes) Georgia (16 electoral votes) Michigan (16 electoral votes) New Jersey (15 electoral votes) Virginia (14 electoral votes) - a total of 11 states for 270 electoral votes which means a candidate can lose the other 39 states and District of Columbia and still win the election.
Candidates concentrate on what are known as swing states. These are states that polls indicate are close to even as to which candidate they will vote for, The concentration is most intense in swing states with a large number of electoral votes.