How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

To win the presidency in the United States, a candidate must secure a majority of the electoral votes available in the Electoral College. There are a total of 538 electoral votes, and a candidate needs at least 270 of those votes to be declared the winner. This threshold reflects a simple majority, which is required to ensure that the elected president has sufficient support across the country. The system is designed to balance representation among the states, giving smaller states a slightly greater influence relative to their population size. Thus, 270 electoral votes represent the minimum needed to claim victory in a presidential election.