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Electoral College: District of Columbia
built 218 days ago
In 48 of the 50 states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a particular state nabs that state's electoral votes. (Same deal for the District of Columbia.) Two exceptions to this are Nebraska and Maine, which allot their electoral votes according to the popular vote winner in each of their House districts. The candidate who obtains at least 270 electoral votes - an Electoral College majority - becomes the next president.
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Twelve states and the District of Columbia have either three or four electoral votes. Six are GOP strongholds. Five and the District of Columbia went solidly Democratic in 2004. One -- New Hampshire -- was a battleground.
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[E]very state has at least 3 electoral votes, because the Constitution grants each State two Senators and at least one Representative. In addition to the 535 electoral votes divided among the States, the District of Columbia has three electoral votes because the 23rd Amendment granted it the same number of votes as the least populated State.
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There are presently 538 electoral votes up for grabs in each presidential election (100 Senators + 435 Representatives + 3 electors from the District of Columbia). Candidates must receive a majority of 270 electoral votes to become President and Vice President.
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District of Columbia