What is required for a presidential candidate to be elected?

A presidential candidate must secure a majority of the electoral votes to be elected. The United States uses the Electoral College system, whereby each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its population and representation in Congress. To win the presidency, a candidate needs to receive more than half of the total electoral votes available, which currently amounts to at least 270 out of 538.

This system ensures that states with larger populations have more influence in the electoral process, while still giving less populous states some representation. A candidate may win the presidency even if they do not win the majority of the national popular vote, as the electoral votes are what ultimately determine the outcome of the election.