How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

To win the presidency, a candidate must secure a majority of the electoral votes. In the U.S. Electoral College system, there are a total of 538 electoral votes available, meaning that a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to achieve a majority. This threshold of 270 votes is vital to establishing a clear winner in presidential elections.

The necessity for a majority ensures that the elected president has broad support among the electors, reflecting the will of the voters across the country. When candidates reach or exceed this number, they are declared the winner of the presidency, which solidifies their mandate to govern. Understanding this mechanism is crucial in the context of U.S. government and presidential elections, as it highlights the importance of both winning states and the distribution of electoral votes across the nation.