47.8k views
3 votes
What is the minimum amount of states to win the presidential election?

User Dontknowhy
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

To win the U.S. presidential election, a candidate must secure at least 270 Electoral College votes, which may come from any combination of states, regardless of the total number of states won.

Step-by-step explanation:

The minimum amount of states needed to win the presidential election is not fixed and depends on the combination of states that gives a candidate at least 270 Electoral College votes, which is more than half of the total 538 votes. Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its congressional delegation, with a minimum of three electoral votes for states with the smallest population, such as North and South Dakota. The winner-take-all system employed by most states means that it is possible for a candidate to win just a handful of highly populated states, like California, Texas, and New York, and a few others, to reach this threshold. However, it's essential to note that winning the most electoral votes overall is the key, not just the number of states.

User Talabes
by
8.6k points

No related questions found