How do states determine their number of electors in the electoral college?
The number of electors in the Electoral College for each state is determined by the total number of Representatives and Senators it has in Congress. The United States Constitution outlines this process in Article II, Section 1, Clause 2.
Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators (2 for each state) plus its total number of Representatives, which is based on the state's population. The number of Representatives is determined by a process known as apportionment, which is the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the population data from the decennial census.
After each census is conducted, which occurs every ten years, the population of each state is determined. Based on the population data, the U.S. Census Bureau calculates the number of seats each state should have in the House of Representatives. This results in some states gaining or losing seats depending on their population growth or decline compared to other states.
Once the number of Representatives is determined, it is added to the number of Senators (always 2) to give the total number of electors for each state. For example, if a state has 10 Representatives in the House of Representatives, it would also have 2 Senators, resulting in a total of 12 electors.
It is important to note that the District of Columbia also receives electors, although it is not a state. The District is allocated the same number of electors as the least populous state, which is currently 3 electors.
In summary, a state's number of electors is determined by adding the number of Representatives and Senators it has in Congress, with the number of Representatives being based on the state's population as determined by the census.