What is required for a candidate to win the presidency?

To win the presidency in the United States, a candidate must secure a majority of electoral votes. The Electoral College system determines the outcome of presidential elections, where each state has a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress. To be elected president, a candidate needs to obtain more than half of the total electoral votes available, which is currently set at 270 out of 538.

This requirement creates a systematic approach to electing the president and emphasizes the significance of winning states, as many states use a winner-takes-all method for distributing their electoral votes. In contrast to the popular vote—where a candidate could potentially win the election without a majority of the actual public votes—success hinges on the electoral vote majority.

This understanding of the Electoral College's role is crucial in comprehending the U.S. presidential election's dynamics, especially in a close race, where the distribution of votes across states can be as significant as the total vote count nationwide.