Final answer:
The number of electors for each state is determined by the total number of representatives and senators that state has in the U.S. Congress or the number of electors it would have if it were a state. Each state's number of electors is based on the combination of Senators and Representatives it has, with the least-populated states having a minimum of three electors and California having the most with 55 electors. Most states utilize a 'winner-take-all' approach, except for Maine and Nebraska, which allocate their electoral votes based on the winner of each congressional district and the statewide vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of electors for each state is determined by the total number of representatives and senators that state has in the U.S. Congress or the number of electors it would have if it were a state, as stated in the Constitution. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of Senators (always two) plus the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives, which is based on the state's population. The least-populated states have a minimum of three electors, while the most-populated state, California, has 55 electors.
However, states utilize a 'winner-take-all' approach, except for Maine and Nebraska. This means that the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state wins all of that state's Electoral College votes. Maine and Nebraska allocate their electoral votes based on the winner of each congressional district, with additional votes awarded to the winner of the statewide vote.
The allocation of Electoral College votes is determined by the New Jersey Plan, which called for a two-house legislature with representation based on population, and the Virginia Plan, which favored maintaining a one-house Congress with equal representation for each state. The final system is a compromise between these plans, ensuring both population-based and equal representation.