Final answer:
A state's electoral votes are equal to the total of its U.S. Senators and Representatives. The number of representatives is based on the state's population figures from the U.S. Census. The answer to the question is d. Equal to the state's combined senators and representatives. Therefore, the correct answer to how a state's electoral votes are determined is: d. Equal to the state's combined senators and representatives.
Step-by-step explanation:
A state's electoral votes are determined by the sum of its U.S. Senators and its U.S. Representatives. Every state has exactly two senators, while the number of representatives is based on the state's population, as established by the U.S. Census conducted every ten years. Therefore, the correct answer to how a state's electoral votes are determined is:
d. Equal to the state's combined senators and representatives.
For example, the least-populated states, such as North and South Dakota, have a minimum of three electoral votes (two senators plus at least one representative), while California, the most populated state, has 55 electoral votes. The total number of U.S. representatives has been fixed at 435 since the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, contributing to the total of 538 electors in the Electoral College. Most states use a winner-take-all system, except for Nebraska and Maine, which distribute their electors proportionally.