Electoral College and Small States - How does it work?

Hi there. I’m currently taking a government class and we’ve been discussing the electoral college. Can anyone help me understand how the electoral college benefits smaller states more? Any resources or explanations appreciated.

Hi! The concept of the Electoral College's potential advantage for smaller states stems from the fact that each state has a minimum of three votes: two votes representing two senators and at least one vote for a representative, regardless of total population. Therefore, smaller states have a slightly larger voice in the Electoral College than their population would suggest.

Let's illustrate this with an example. As of the 2020 Census, Wyoming, the least populous state, has around 580,000 residents and three electoral votes, or one for approximately every 193,000 residents. California, the most populous state, has around 39.5 million residents and 55 electoral votes, or about one for every 718,000 residents. So, a given voter in Wyoming has greater influence in the Electoral College than a voter in California.

However, it's important to note that this proportional advantage of electoral votes doesn't necessarily translate into political power for smaller states. Larger states still have more votes and therefore more sway in the Electoral College overall. Plus, the electoral college can also incentivize candidates to focus on "swing states" or "battleground states," regardless of their size.

In essence, while smaller states do have a slight mathematical edge in the Electoral College, the 'winner takes all' method used in most states can potentially reduce any practical benefits.