Popular Vote
The total number of individual votes cast by citizens across the country for each presidential candidate.
The popular vote refers to the aggregate count of individual ballots cast by eligible voters nationwide for each presidential candidate. It is a measure of direct democratic support across the country.
The United States does not elect its president by national popular vote. Instead, the Electoral College system awards electoral votes state by state. It is therefore possible for a candidate to win the presidency while receiving fewer popular votes than their opponent.
This has occurred in several elections in US history, most recently in 2000 and 2016. Some advocates argue for a national popular vote compact or a constitutional amendment to elect the president by direct popular vote.
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The system of 538 electors who formally elect the US president; a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.
A vote cast by an Electoral College elector toward electing the president; each state's electors equal its House seats plus two Senate seats.
A state where neither major party has a consistent advantage, making it highly competitive and influential in presidential elections.