What type of vote must a Presidential candidate win to receive a state's electoral votes?

To receive a state's electoral votes, a Presidential candidate must win the popular vote within that state during the general election. The popular vote refers to the total number of votes cast by the public for a candidate, and it is this vote that determines the allocation of electoral votes in most states.

While the Electoral College system ultimately decides the presidency based on these electoral votes, the foundational requirement for a candidate to gain those votes is their success in the popular vote at the state level. Most states employ a winner-takes-all approach, meaning that the candidate who receives the most votes overall in that state will receive all of its electoral votes, underscoring the importance of winning the popular vote in that context.

In contrast, options like majority vote refer to a scenario where over half of the electorate's votes are needed, but that isn't the sole requirement for receiving electoral votes. Proportional vote suggests sharing electoral votes based on the percentage of votes received, which isn't the method used by most states. Therefore, the popular vote is the essential metric for winning a state's electoral votes in the electoral process.