How do states determine their number of electors in the electoral college?
The number of electors each state is entitled to in the Electoral College is determined by the total number of seats a state has in the United States Congress. Specifically, it is calculated based on the state's representation in the House of Representatives plus its two Senators.
Every state is guaranteed at least three electors (representing its two Senators and one Representative), regardless of its population. The remaining electors are allocated proportionally based on the state's population.
The process of determining the number of electors involves the following steps:
1. Census: The United States conducts a census every ten years to count the population and determine the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives. The most recent census was conducted in 2020.
2. Apportionment: Based on the census results, the total number of seats in the House of Representatives is fixed at 435. The remaining 100 seats in the Senate represent the two Senators from each state, making the total number of electors 538.
3. Distributing seats: The method for distributing the 435 seats in the House among the 50 states is determined by a mathematical formula known as the method of equal proportions or the Huntington-Hill method. This formula looks at the population of each state and calculates the number of seats it should receive, while also taking into account the apportionment requirements outlined by law.
4. Determining the number of electors: Once the number of seats in the House is allocated to each state, the number of electors is derived by adding the state's seats in the House to its two Senators.
It is important to note that the allocation of electors can change following each census, as population shifts among states can result in the gain or loss of seats in the House of Representatives, thereby impacting the number of electors a state has in the Electoral College.