Race could be as close as 2 electoral votes (270/268) - Get out and vote
November 8, 2016 will mark a memorable date in American history as the day of a much-contested 58th presidential election. Voters have choices for six individuals vying for the presidential office:
Donald Trump – Republican from New York
Hillary Clinton – Democrat from New York
Gary Johnson – Libertarian from New Mexico
Jill Stein – Green Party from Massachusetts
Darrell Castle – Constitution Party from Tennessee
Evan McMullin – Independent from Utah
Of the six candidates, only three have ballot access in all 50 states: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Gary Johnson. Jill Stein has ballot access in the number of states to acquire enough electoral votes. At least 24 other third-party candidates and independents will appear on the ballot in some states.
The 45th United States President will not be elected by popular vote. Rather, voters will pick presidential electors, who in turn will select a new president and vice president through The United States Electoral College. Electors are selected from each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
The number of electors in each state equals the number of members of Congress from each state plus three from the District of Columbia (23rd Amendment). This total is 538 electors: 435 Representatives, 100 Senators and three from District of Columbia.
Apart from Nebraska and Maine, all states choose electors on a “winner-takes-all” basis since the 1880s. Nebraska and Maine use a “congressional district method” choosing one elector within each congressional district by popular vote and choosing the remaining two electors by a statewide popular vote. Each elector casts one vote for president and one vote for vice president based on the Twelfth Amendment.
The candidate who receives 270 electoral votes out of 538 possible votes is elected to the office. If not one candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives selects the president with each state delegation having only one vote. If no candidate receives a majority for vice president, the Senate will then have one vote each to select the vice president.
With one week remaining to one of the most important presidential elections in America’s history, your vote has never been more important. Become well-informed about the candidates and vote…the future of America depends on it.
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