By Prior Beharry
AS the United States gears up for another presidential election this time between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the focus shifts to the pivotal role of the Electoral College in determining the nation’s next leader.
Unlike many other democratic systems where the popular vote directly decides the winner, the US employs a unique system that requires candidates to secure a majority of electoral votes to claim the presidency.
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is a body of 538 electors established by the United States Constitution. Each state’s number of electors is equal to the sum of its Senators and Representatives in Congress, ensuring a minimum of three electors per state. The total also includes three electors from the District of Columbia, as granted by the 23rd Amendment.
The Path to 270
To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes—at least 270 out of 538. This majority ensures that the president has support that is geographically distributed across the country, rather than concentrated in populous areas alone.
How Are Electoral Votes Allocated?
Electoral votes are generally allocated on a winner-takes-all basis in most states. This means that the candidate who receives the majority of the popular vote in a state secures all of that state’s electoral votes.
However, Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system, allocating two electoral votes to the statewide winner and the remaining votes according to the victor in each congressional district.
The Impact on Campaign Strategies
The Electoral College system heavily influences campaign strategies. Candidates focus their efforts on so-called “swing states” or “battleground states”—states where the outcome is uncertain and both candidates have a strong chance of winning. These states, which include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, have received disproportionate attention and resources.
Controversies and Criticisms
The Electoral College has been subject to criticism and calls for reform. Critics argue that it can lead to scenarios where a candidate wins the presidency without winning the popular vote, as seen in the elections of 2000 and 2016.
Proponents, however, argue that it preserves the federal character of the nation by encouraging candidates to campaign across the entire country.
In the 2020 Presidential elections, President Joe Biden won six of the seven swing States.
See swing states and margins of victory in the 2020 election:
| State | Electoral College Votes | Population | 2020 Winner & Margin |
| Arizona | 11 | 7.4 million | Biden by 10,000 votes |
| Georgia | 16 | 11 million | Biden by 13,000 votes |
| Michigan | 15 | 10 million | Biden by 150,000 votes |
| Nevada | 6 | 3.2 million | Biden by 34,000 votes |
| North Carolina | 16 | 10.8 million | Trump by 74,000 votes |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 13 million | Biden by 82,000 votes |
| Wisconsin | 10 | 5.9 million | Biden by 21,000 votes |
