How many electoral votes must a candidate receive to win the presidency?

A candidate must receive 270 electoral votes to win the presidency, which constitutes a majority of the 538 total electoral votes available in the Electoral College system. This majority requirement ensures that the winning candidate has broad support across the electoral spectrum, as these votes are distributed based on each state's population and the number of Senators and Representatives it has in Congress. The Electoral College is designed this way to reflect the federal nature of the United States, balancing the influence of populous states with that of smaller states.

Understanding this concept is crucial, as candidates often focus their campaigning efforts on swing states—those that can vote for either major party—because winning these states is essential to reach or exceed the 270-vote threshold needed for election. This system emphasizes not just total votes received nationwide but strategic campaigning in key areas that can deliver the necessary electoral votes.