What is the popular vote?

The popular vote is your vote — the votes of the people. The popular vote is equal to the number of ballots cast.

What is the electoral college?

     The electoral college is made up of 538 electors — one for every representative and senator in Congress, plus three for the District of Columbia. To become president, Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Trump needs to reach a majority of 270 electors.  The electoral college is based upon a state’s representation in Congress, which is based upon a state’s population. As the most populated state in the country, California has the most electors: 54, for its 52 representatives and two senators. Harris is widely expected to win the popular vote in California, and therefore collect all 54 electors. 

     In most states, whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state is awarded the state’s electors in a “winner-take-all” system.  However, two states — Maine and Nebraska — have a proportional representation electoral college. Both states award two electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote, and then one for the winner of each congressional district (Maine has two congressional districts, Nebraska has three).  Each state’s political party generally appoints the slate of electors.

So how does a candidate become president?

     To become president, a candidate must win 270 electoral votes.  A president can win the electoral college without winning the popular vote. This has happened four times in U.S. history, twice in the 1800s and twice this century. Trump lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton but prevailed in the electoral college in 2016. Republican George W. Bush lost the popular vote in 2000 but defeated Democrat Al Gore.

What happens if the electoral vote is a tie?

     If the candidates tie at 269 electors each, the election turns to the House of Representatives. Each state gets to cast one vote for president, and at least two-thirds of the chamber must be present to vote.  The last time the House of Representatives decided a presidential election was in 1824, when it picked John Quincy Adams.