<P> Each state chooses electors , equal in number to that state 's combined total of senators and representatives . There are a total of 538 electors , corresponding to the 435 representatives and 100 senators , plus the three electors for the District of Columbia as provided by the Twenty - third Amendment . The Constitution bars any federal official , elected or appointed , from being an elector . The Office of the Federal Register is charged with administering the Electoral College . Since the mid-19th century when all electors have been popularly chosen , the Electoral College has elected the candidate who received the most popular votes nationwide , except in four elections : 1876 , 1888 , 2000 , and 2016 . In 1824 , there were six states in which electors were legislatively appointed , rather than popularly elected , so the true national popular vote is uncertain ; the electors failed to select a winning candidate , so the matter was decided by the House of Representatives . </P>
<P> Each state chooses electors , equal in number to that state 's combined total of senators and representatives . There are a total of 538 electors , corresponding to the 435 representatives and 100 senators , plus the three electors for the District of Columbia as provided by the Twenty - third Amendment . The Constitution bars any federal official , elected or appointed , from being an elector . The Office of the Federal Register is charged with administering the Electoral College . Since the mid-19th century when all electors have been popularly chosen , the Electoral College has elected the candidate who received the most popular votes nationwide , except in four elections : 1876 , 1888 , 2000 , and 2016 . In 1824 , there were six states in which electors were legislatively appointed , rather than popularly elected , so the true national popular vote is uncertain ; the electors failed to select a winning candidate , so the matter was decided by the House of Representatives . </P>
how are electoral college votes distributed among the states
how are electoral college votes distributed among the states
equal in number to that state 's combined total of senators and representatives
equal in number to that state 's combined total of senators and representatives