How many electoral votes are required to win the presidency?

To win the presidency of the United States, a candidate must secure a majority of the electoral votes. The total number of electoral votes is 538, and a candidate needs at least 270 of these votes to achieve that majority and be declared the winner. This threshold of 270 is significant because it reflects the importance of winning both populous and less populous states to amass the necessary support across the nation. The system is designed to balance the influence of states with larger populations against those with smaller populations, hence the need for a majority rather than a simple plurality. This is a fundamental aspect of the electoral process in the U.S., ensuring that the president has broad support across different regions.