What happens to the electoral votes in states where the candidate wins the popular vote?

When a candidate wins the popular vote in a state, they typically receive all the electoral votes for that state. This is in accordance with the winner-takes-all system employed by most states in the United States. In this system, the candidate who secures the majority of the popular vote in a state will be awarded all of that state's electoral votes, which contributes to their overall total in the Electoral College during a presidential election.

This approach reinforces the importance of winning the popular vote in each state, as securing that win directly translates into the accumulation of electoral votes, which are necessary for a candidate to win the presidency. Therefore, the method not only influences campaigning strategies but also highlights the significant role that state-level popular votes play in the overall electoral process.