Ever feel like the Electoral College is just some math riddle designed to make your head spin? You aren’t alone. Every four years, we all suddenly care about "magic numbers" and map colors, but the foundation of the whole thing is actually pretty static. Well, mostly.
Basically, the 538 votes up for grabs are tied to the census. People move, states grow, and every ten years, the government plays a giant game of musical chairs with congressional seats. If you’ve ever wondered what are the electoral votes for each state and why they keep changing, you're looking at a map of how America is physically shifting.
Texas is booming. California is technically shrinking—at least in terms of political weight. These aren't just trivia points; they are the literal levers of power in the United States.
The Heavy Hitters: Where the Big Numbers Live
If you want to win the presidency, you start with the giants. California remains the undisputed king of the hill with 54 votes. Even though it actually lost a seat for the first time in history after the 2020 Census, it's still the biggest prize.
Texas is the one to watch, though. It jumped up to 40 votes recently. Honestly, the gap between California and Texas is narrowing every decade. Then you have Florida sitting comfortably at 30 and New York at 28. It’s wild to think that just these four states hold 152 votes. That is more than halfway to the 270 needed to win.
Here is how the top of the leaderboard looks:
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- California: 54
- Texas: 40
- Florida: 30
- New York: 28
- Illinois: 19
- Pennsylvania: 19
- Ohio: 17
- Georgia: 16
- North Carolina: 16
You might notice Illinois and Pennsylvania are tied. They both have 19, and both actually lost a vote after the latest census. It’s a bit of a Rust Belt trend. While the South and West are gaining steam, the Northeast and Midwest are seeing their influence dip just a tiny bit.
The "Three-Vote" Club and Small State Power
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the states where every person’s vote technically carries more "electoral weight." Every state is guaranteed at least three votes—one for each of its two Senators and at least one for its Representative.
Six states and the District of Columbia currently sit at this minimum:
- Alaska
- Delaware
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C. (Thanks to the 23rd Amendment)
People in Wyoming sometimes joke that their votes "count more" because 580,000 people share three electors, while in California, 39 million people share 54. The math bears that out. It’s one of those quirks of the Constitution that keeps the "United" in United States, ensuring the smallest players aren't totally ignored by the big guys.
What Are The Electoral Votes For Each State: The Full 2024-2028 List
Since the 2020 Census determines the count for the 2024 and 2028 elections, these numbers are locked in for a while. If you're looking for your specific state, here is the breakdown of what are the electoral votes for each state in alphabetical order.
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Alabama has 9. Alaska has 3. Arizona, a major battleground, sits at 11. Arkansas has 6. We already mentioned California's 54. Colorado moved up to 10 recently. Connecticut has 7. Delaware stays at 3. Florida is at 30. Georgia, another nail-biter state, has 16. Hawaii has 4. Idaho has 4. Illinois has 19. Indiana has 11. Iowa has 6. Kansas has 6. Kentucky has 8. Louisiana has 8. Maine has 4. Maryland has 10. Massachusetts has 11. Michigan has 15. Minnesota has 10. Mississippi has 6. Missouri has 10. Montana gained one, so it’s at 4 now. Nebraska has 5. Nevada has 6. New Hampshire has 4. New Jersey has 14. New Mexico has 5. New York has 28. North Carolina jumped to 16. North Dakota has 3. Ohio has 17. Oklahoma has 7. Oregon moved up to 8. Pennsylvania has 19. Rhode Island has 4. South Carolina has 9. South Dakota has 3. Tennessee has 11. Texas is at 40. Utah has 6. Vermont has 3. Virginia has 13. Washington has 12. West Virginia dropped to 4. Wisconsin has 10. Wyoming has 3.
Wait, that's not quite 538. Don't forget Washington, D.C., which adds those final 3.
Why Do These Numbers Keep Changing?
It’s all about the "Method of Equal Proportions." Sounds fancy, right? It’s basically a math formula the Census Bureau uses to distribute the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
Since your electoral total is $House Seats + 2 Senators$, a change in population results in a change in your vote count. After the 2020 Census, 13 states saw their numbers move.
- Texas was the big winner, gaining 2.
- Florida, Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon each picked up 1.
- California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia all lost 1.
It’s a slow-motion migration. People are moving toward the "Sun Belt"—the South and the West. This shift is expected to continue. By the 2030 Census, some experts think Texas could climb toward 45 votes while New York might drop toward 25.
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The Maine and Nebraska Exception
Most states are "winner-take-all." If you win California by one single vote, you get all 54 electoral votes. It’s brutal but simple.
However, Maine and Nebraska do things differently. They use a "District System." They give two votes to the statewide winner and then one vote to the winner of each individual Congressional district.
This is why you’ll sometimes see a map with a tiny blue dot in the middle of a red state (like Omaha, Nebraska) or a red dot in a blue state (like Northern Maine). It makes the math a lot more interesting for campaign managers.
Practical Steps for Voters
Knowing the numbers is great for trivia, but it's more about understanding where the candidates are going to spend their time—and why your local issues might suddenly become national news if you live in a place like Pennsylvania (19) or Arizona (11).
- Check your registration: Even if you know your state has 10 votes or 40, they only count if people show up. Ensure you're registered at your current address via Vote.gov.
- Watch the 2030 projections: If you’re interested in the long-term political landscape, keep an eye on moving trends. States like Idaho and Utah are growing fast and might be the next to see a "plus-one" in their column.
- Understand the "270" path: Use an interactive map tool to see how different combinations of states can lead to a victory. It’s the best way to see how what are the electoral votes for each state actually determines the next president.
The system isn't perfect, and people argue about it constantly. But for now, these numbers are the rules of the game.