If you’re checking your phone to see what the electoral votes right now are, you might be surprised to find that the number hasn't budged in over a year. It’s sitting at 312 for Donald Trump and 226 for Kamala Harris. That's it. That is the final scoreboard.
I get why people keep searching for it, though. We’ve lived through several election cycles where "final" didn't actually mean final for weeks or even months. But today, in early 2026, those numbers are essentially historical facts, carved into the National Archives. The 2024 election is fully settled, the inauguration happened a year ago, and we are actually staring down the barrel of the 2026 midterms.
Why the Electoral Votes Right Now Haven't Changed
Basically, once Congress certifies the votes on January 6th—which they did back in 2025—the "current" electoral count becomes a permanent record. It isn't a live ticker anymore.
To win the White House, a candidate needs 270 votes. Donald Trump cleared that bar comfortably by flipping the "Blue Wall" states and holding onto the Sun Belt. It was a decisive 312 to 226 victory. No faithless electors messed with the tally this time around, which made the certification process a whole lot smoother than the one four years prior.
The Breakdown by State
Most states are "winner-take-all." If you win the popular vote in Florida by one person or one million, you get all 30 of their electoral votes. Simple.
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But Maine and Nebraska like to be different. They split theirs. In 2024, we saw:
- Nebraska: Trump took 4, but Harris managed to snag 1 from the 2nd Congressional District (around Omaha).
- Maine: Harris took 3, but Trump grabbed 1 from the 2nd District.
This kind of split is rare but becoming more common. Honestly, it’s one of the few parts of the Electoral College that actually reflects the internal political divide of a state.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Right Now"
There’s a common misconception that electoral votes might change if a president leaves office or if there’s a special election. Nope.
If a President or Vice President resigns—like JD Vance did from his Senate seat to become VP—the electoral votes that put them there don't move. Those votes were for the 2024-2028 term. They are spent. Right now, the focus isn't on the 538 electors; it's on the 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats up for grabs in November 2026.
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The Census Factor
The number of electoral votes each state has isn't permanent, but it only changes every ten years. We are currently using the 2020 Census data.
- Texas is the big winner with 40.
- California is still the largest but actually lost a seat, dropping to 54.
- Florida is up to 30.
These numbers will stay exactly as they are for the 2028 election too. We won't see a "re-shuffling" of the electoral map until after the 2030 Census. So, when you look at the electoral votes right now, you're looking at a map that is locked in for the next few years.
How We Got to 312-226
The 2024 race was defined by six or seven "swing states." You’ve heard the list a thousand times: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Trump swept all of them.
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That sweep is how he jumped from the 232 votes he had in 2020 to the 312 he has now. It’s a huge swing. For context, in 2016, he won with 304 (after faithless electors were removed). This 312-vote victory is actually his strongest performance in the Electoral College across his three runs.
Actionable Insights: What to Watch for Next
Since the electoral votes right now are a "closed book," your attention should shift to the 2026 midterm cycle. Here is how the 2024 electoral map is already influencing what's happening today:
- Redistricting Battles: States like Ohio and New York are still fighting over House maps. While this doesn't change the 538 electoral votes for President, it determines who controls Congress.
- Special Elections: Keep an eye on the seats vacated by people who joined the administration. These are the "live" votes that matter this year.
- Voter Trends: Look at the "margins" in the 2024 map. States that were close (like Pennsylvania) are where the most money will be spent for the 2026 Senate races.
The 312 to 226 count is a piece of history. It tells us how the country felt in November 2024. But as we move through 2026, the real "votes" to watch aren't electoral—they are the ones happening in your local district this November.
Next Steps: To see how these numbers might shift in the future, you can look up the "2030 Census Projections" to see which states are expected to gain or lose electoral power in the next decade. Alternatively, check your local Board of Elections website to ensure you’re registered for the upcoming 2026 midterm primaries.