Electoral College System >Page 1, 2, 3
How to Lose But Win and Election
A look at the Table of Electoral Votes From
Each State and a little math will tell you that the Electoral College system
makes it possible for a candidate to actually lose the nationwide popular vote,
but be elected president by the Electoral College.
In fact, it is possible for a candidate to not get a single person's vote -- not one -- in 39 states or the District of Columbia, yet be elected president by wining the popular vote in just 11 of these 12 states:
| State | Electoral Votes |
State | Electoral Votes |
| California | 54 | Ohio | 21 |
| New York | 33 | Michigan | 18 |
| Texas | 32 | New Jersey | 15 |
| Florida | 25 | North Carolina | 14 |
| Pennsylvania | 23 | Georgia | 13* |
| Illinois | 22 | Virginia | 13* |
* Either state could be the 11th state
There are 538 total votes in the Electoral College and a presidential candidate must win a majority -- 270 -- electoral votes to be elected. Since 11 of the 12 states in the chart above account for exactly 270 votes, a candidate could win these states, lose the other 39, and still be elected.
Of course, a candidate popular enough to win California or New York will almost certainly win some smaller states, as well.. But, when you play with popularity and numbers, anything can happen. And has.
Has it Ever Happened?
Has a presidential candidate ever lost the nationwide popular vote but
been elected president in the Electoral College? Yes, twice.
In 1876 there were a total of 369 electoral votes available with 185 needed to win. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, with 4,036,298 popular votes won 185 electoral votes. His main opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, won the popular vote with 4,300,590 votes, but won only 184 electoral votes. Hayes was elected president.
In 1888 there were a total of 401 electoral votes available with 201 needed to win. Republican Benjamin Harrison, with 5,439,853 popular votes won 233 electoral votes. His main opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland, won the popular vote with 5,540,309 votes, but won only 168 electoral votes. Harrison was elected president.
Discuss it here: Should the US scrap the Electoral College system?
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