State Population vs. Electoral Vote
The apportionment of electoral votes is based on the congressional representation for each state, meaning that each congressional seat equals an electoral vote. Since the House of Representatives is set at 435 seats and the Senate at 100, changes in electoral votes with every 10-year census are often very minute. Therefore, the number of people per electoral vote in one state is very different than the number of people per electoral vote in another. Below is a list of states along with their populations, number of electoral votes, and a percentage that demonstrates the relative value of a vote cast in that state compared to the national average (For example on average a state is awarded one electoral vote for every 545,828 people. However, Wyoming has three electoral votes and only 506,529 citizens. As a result each of Wyoming's three votes corresponds to only 168,843 people.  These people have 3.23 times as much clout in the Electoral College as an average American or 323% as listed in the chart).


States 2004 Population 2004 Electoral Votes % vs. National Average
Alabama 4,530,182 9 108%
Alaska 655,435 3 250%
Arizona 5,743,834 10 95%
Arkansas 2,752,629 6 119%
California 35,893,799 55 84%
Colorado 4,601,403 9 107%
Connecticut 3,503,604 7 109%
Delaware 830,364 3 197%
Dist. of Columbia 553,523 3 296%
Florida 17,397,161 27 85%
Georgia 8,829,383 15 93%
Hawaii 1,262,840 4 173%
Idaho 1,393,262 4 157%
Illinois 12,713,634 21 90%
Indiana 6,237,569 11 96%
Iowa 2,954,451 7 129%
Kansas 2,735,502 6 120%
Kentucky 4,145,922 8 105%
Louisiana 4,515,770 9 109%
Maine 1,317,253 4 166%
Maryland 5,558,058 10 98%
Massachusetts 6,416,505 12 102%
Michigan 10,112,620 17 92%
Minnesota 5,100,958 10 107%
Mississippi 2,902,966 6 113%
Missouri 5,754,618 11 104%
Montana 926,865 3 177%
Nebraska 1,747,214 5 156%
Nevada 2,334,771 5 117%
New Hampshire 1,299,500 4 168%
New Jersey 8,698,879 15 94%
New Mexico 1,903,289 5 143%
New York 19,227,088 31 88%
North Carolina 8,541,221 15 96%
North Dakota 634,366 3 258%
Ohio 11,459,011 20 95%
Oklahoma 3,523,553 7 108%
Oregon 3,594,586 7 106%
Pennsylvania 12,406,292 21 92%
Rhode Island 1,080,632 4 202%
South Carolina 4,198,068 8 104%
South Dakota 770,883 3 212%
Tennessee 5,900,962 11 102%
Texas 22,490,022 34 83%
Utah 2,389,039 5 114%
Vermont 621,394 3 264%
Virginia 7,459,827 13 95%
Washington 6,203,788 11 97%
West Virginia 1,815,354 5 150%
Wisconsin 5,509,026 10 99%
Wyoming 506,529 3 323%
United States 293,655,404 538 100%


*Populations from the United States Census as of July 1, 2003; Electoral Votes from the Federal Elections Commission.


How the Electoral College Works Today

Electoral College Table of Contents

 

 
April 17th 2009
In our view, April 17: Equal Voting
Columbian

Editorial in the Columbian in favor of the national popular vote plan, which is likely to be passed into law soon in the state of Washington.

February 5th 2009
Push continues to defeat Electoral College
Associated Press

Associated Press wire story on National Popular Vote moving in Vermont features FairVote analysis

January 20th 2009
Initiative could make elections more fair
The Columbia Tribune

Missouri ally of the National Popular Vote plan writes oped in local paper.

January 10th 2009
Abolish the Electoral College
Sarasota Herald Tribune

Editorial strongly in favor of a national popular vote for president via constitutional amendment or the 'compelling' National Popular Vote plan.

December 22nd 2008
Time to eliminate Electoral College?
Post-Tribune

Editorial supports a national popular vote for president, citing FairVote's research.

[ Previous ] [ Next ]