The future of the USA lies in the hands of around 244 million people. This is how many Americans are called on November 5th to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. We answer why the USA always votes on Tuesdays in our article.
It is not yet possible to say whether the winner will be decided on election day. Because so far it’s looking like an extremely close race: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in the important swing states.
Harris or Trump? The results of the 2024 US election can be read here.
But why are these so important? And what actually happens in a stalemate?
A look at the crucial electoral college.
What role do the electors play?
In the USA, the head of state is elected indirectly through electors, so-called “electors”. Each state sends a set number of electors depending on its population size. The minimum number is three (e.g. North Dakota and Washington, DC), and in California, the largest state, there are 55 electors up for grabs. In total, the Electoral College consists of 538 delegates. Electors vote 41 days after the presidential election, this year on December 14th. Whoever wins more than half of them (270) becomes president. The winner is scheduled to be sworn in on January 20, 2025.
What does “the winner takes it all” mean?
So the candidates are actually fighting to win in the individual states, because the winner gets all the electors that are available, while the loser comes away empty-handed. The “winner takes it all” principle applies in 48 out of 50 states.
An example: If Donald Trump were to win Florida with 50.1 percent of the vote, he would get the votes from all 29 electors, and Kamala Harris would come away completely empty-handed.
Don’t want to miss any current developments regarding the US election? Then take a look at our live ticker for the 2024 US election.
Are there exceptions?
Yes, the U.S. states of Maine and Nebraska rely on congressional districts to divide electoral votes approximately proportionally. The winner of the majority of votes receives two electoral votes. One vote is awarded to the winner per congressional district.
Which are the hotly contested “swing states”?
This year, Pennsylvania is considered the jackpot: with 19 voters, it is one of the most important battleground states. Harris and Trump are neck and neck in the polls here. Behind them are the traditional “battleground states” or “swing states”, i.e. those states that sometimes vote for a Republican and sometimes for a Democrat. This year it should be exciting in seven states – you can find a detailed overview of the swing states here. In the rural Midwest, these include Michigan (15) and Wisconsin (10), as well as the “sunshine states” Georgia (16), Arizona (11) and Nevada (6). An open race is also emerging in North Carolina (16).
Can a candidate miss a majority of the vote but still win the election?
Yes, because of the indirect electoral system, it is possible for a candidate to win the most direct votes but still lose the election. This was the case in 2016, for example. At that time, more Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, but Trump was able to secure a majority of the electorate through the states he won.
Can there be a draw?
Yes, a tie is possible as there are currently an even number of electoral votes. If this happens in the Electoral College, the decision goes to the newly installed House of Representatives, with each state voting as a unit. If a U.S. state’s delegation has a tie, it does not count. A presidential candidate needs at least 26 votes to win. We have explained the voting system for the 2024 US election in this article.
What happens if an Elector breaks his oath?
People call them “faithless electors.” In 2016, seven electors – five Democrats and two Republicans – broke their promise and did not vote for their party’s nominee. However, that didn’t change the result.
Whether electors should be able to change their positions is a duty that has long been hotly debated. In 2020, the Supreme Court subsequently ruled that states can require electors to keep their promise to support a particular candidate.
We also provide an overview of the most important dates for the 2024 US election.
