Final answer:
The number of electoral votes for each state is determined by the sum of its U.S. senators and representatives, with the latter being based on state population figures from the census. States usually follow a winner-take-all approach, except for Maine and Nebraska which allocates votes using the congressional district method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of electoral votes in each state is determined by the state's total number of representatives and senators in the U.S. Congress. Each state has two senators, and the number of representatives is based on the state's population as determined by the U.S. Census conducted every ten years. The most recent census took place in 2020. Therefore, the total number of electoral votes for a state equals the number of senators (always two) plus the number of representatives, which can fluctuate with the state's population. Washington, DC, is granted as many electors as it would have if it were a state, though it cannot have more than the least populous state.
Under the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, the House of Representatives has been capped at 435 members, but the distribution among the states can change based on census results. Overall, there are 538 electors in the Electoral College, with a majority of 270 needed to win the presidency. Most states follow a winner-take-all approach where the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state wins all its electoral votes, but in Maine and Nebraska, a congressional district method is used, dividing the votes more proportionally.