In a presidential election, a minor-party candidate receives of the popular vote in a state, while the candidate from Major Party A receives and the candidate from Major Party B receives . Under the winner-take-all system used by most states, which of the following describes how the state's electoral votes are allocated?
- AThe state's electoral votes are divided proportionally among the candidates based on their popular vote percentages.
- BThe allocation of the state's electoral votes is deferred to the House of Representatives because no candidate won a majority of the popular vote.
- All of the state's electoral votes are awarded to the candidate from Major Party A.Answer
- DThe electoral votes are split evenly between Major Party A and Major Party B, with the minor party receiving nothing.
Answer
All of the state's electoral votes are awarded to the candidate from Major Party A.
In almost all U.S. states, the presidential electors are awarded using a winner-take-all system. This means that whichever candidate wins a plurality of the popular vote in that state—even if it is less than a majority—receives all of the state's electoral votes. Since the candidate from Major Party A won the highest share of the popular vote (), they receive all the electoral votes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Winner-take-all electoral college allocation acts as a major structural barrier for third-party candidates.