Question

Which statement best explains why Florida and New York have the same number of electoral votes?

A. They are both swing states.
B. The popular vote in each state was very similar in 2012.
C. They have been states for approximately the same amount of time.
D. Their population sizes are similar.

Answer 1

Florida and New York have the same number of electoral votes because their population sizes are similar. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Their population sizes are similar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of electoral votes granted to each state is based on the total number of representatives and senators that state has in the U.S. Congress. This is determined by the state's population size as measured by the U.S. Census every ten years. The states with larger populations, like Florida and New York, have more electoral votes because they have more representatives in Congress. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Their population sizes are similar.

The Electoral College system involves both the 'winner-take-all' system, used by most states, and the congressional district method used by Maine and Nebraska. This can sometimes lead to a disparity between the popular vote and the Electoral College outcome. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Their population sizes are similar.

Answer 2

Florida and New York have the same number of electoral votes because their population sizes are similar, which determines the number of representatives in Congress and subsequently their Electoral College votes.The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best explains why Florida and New York have the same number of electoral votes is D. Their population sizes are similar. Each state's number of Electoral College votes equals the total number of representatives and senators that state has in the U.S. Congress, which is determined by the state population as counted in the U.S. Census, conducted every ten years. Therefore, states with similar populations will have a similar number of representatives in the House of Representatives and, since every state has two senators, their Electoral College votes will be comparable if their populations are similar.