Final answer:
The number of electoral votes a state has can go up or down based on its population, with increases in population leading to more votes and declines to fewer votes. This is determined by the U.S. Census every ten years and subsequent reapportionment and redistricting to ensure the one-person-one-vote principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Impact of Population on Electoral Votes
The number of electoral votes for each state can increase or decrease based upon changes in the state's population. This is evident, for example, when looking at the state of California, where its population comprises 11% of the total U.S. population but it receives 20% of the electoral votes. The U.S. Census, conducted every ten years, plays a crucial role in determining the number of Electoral College votes each state receives, as it impacts the number of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives for that state.
In some cases, states like Michigan have seen a decrease in their electoral votes due to a declining population, resulting in a reduced number of voting districts. Conversely, states such as Texas, Florida, and California have experienced population increases, which have led to the addition of new representative districts. It's important to note the influence of the one-person-one-vote principle, as confirmed by the Supreme Court decision in Reynolds v. Simms (1964), which aims for equal weight of every vote by ensuring districts have roughly equal populations and leads to the need for periodic reapportionment and redistricting.