What is meant by '270 votes to win' in the US election

[hollie1586]

I am not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to politics so can someone tell me what it means when they are saying that either obama/romney need 270 votes to win. I really dont understand how the US election system works. Obama to win by the way!!

[dotty.]

it will give either one a majority and yes, GARTH and I both agree with you, Obama to win, (see avatar)

[sir.prize]

http://www.mirror.co....ctoral-system-1419435

[pastafreak]

The 270 vote refers to the 'electoral votes'
Each state holds a certain number of votes in proportion to its population.All of those votes will go to a particular candidate-depending on what the majority vote is in that state. Those votes determine who wins...not the actual votes by the citizens.

Don't worry-I'm an American,and I'm confused also...

[zebo]

The Americans don't directly elect the President, each State has a number of votes in the Electoral College, related to their population, and whichever man wins the popular vote in that State gets those votes. The winner is the one who gets most Electoral College votes. That's why the map looks very red, ie Romney but they're sparsely populated states, the greatest number of Electoral College votes are on the coast, hence it's very close. So the winner may not win the most states.

[FredPuli43]

And what if it's a tie?. The representative of each state is supposed, of course, to cast his electoral college votes for the candidate that his state tells him to. So, the states, if everything goes to plan , might vote so that the end total for each candidate is exactly the same, a tie But not every state has a law saying that their man must do what they tell him. If any man goes rogue, and doesn't comply, what would have been properly a tie is suddenly won by the candidate he defects to, against orders!

That 'going rogue' has happened in the past, but not with that result.

Otherwise, if it is indeed a tie, the House of Representatives chooses the President and the Senate the Vice - President. That would make Romney President, because the Republicans have a majority in that house, and Joe Biden the Vice President, because the Democrats have a majority in that house.