Final answer:
In order to become President of the United States, a candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes. Each state is assigned a number of electors based on its representation in Congress, with a fixed number of representatives and two senators per state. Most states use a winner-takes-all system for awarding electoral votes, but Nebraska and Maine have a different allocation method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of electors needed to win the presidency in the United States is 270 electoral votes.
Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the total number of representatives and senators it has in Congress. The number of representatives is fixed at 435, while the number of senators is two for each state. Additionally, Washington, DC, also has electors as if it were a state.
Most states operate under a winner-takes-all system, where the candidate who receives the most votes in the state gets all of its electoral votes. However, Nebraska and Maine allocate their electoral votes based on the winner in each congressional district and the statewide winner.