Electoral votes are the votes cast by members of the Electoral College in the United States during presidential elections. Each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its population and representation in Congress, totaling 538 electoral votes nationwide. To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of these votes, which is at least 270. When citizens cast their ballots for president, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to that candidate. These electors then formally cast their electoral votes in December, following the November election, officially determining the outcome of the election.