Practice

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State & history

How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win the presidency?

A 218
✕ 435 Your answer
✓ 270
D 538

Not quite.

The Electoral College has 538 electors, so a candidate needs a majority of 270. The number comes from 435 House members, 100 senators and 3 electors for Washington, D.C.

Source: U.S. Constitution, Article II and 23rd Amendment; archives.gov Electoral College

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