The Presidential elections in the United States can be somewhat complicated to understand, so it’s essential to grasp concepts like the Electoral College, the popular vote, and the “first-past-the-post” system. Another important distinction is the division into electoral districts, which are not the same as states and whose numbers do not correspond to the members of the Electoral College. Let’s take a look...

What is an electoral district?

Electoral districts in US elections are the geographic divisions used to organize voting within each region, essentially the electoral areas into which each state is divided. These districts allow voters in each area to choose their preferred representatives, and the number of districts in each state is determined by its population size.

They are designed to ensure that every citizen’s vote carries equal weight, though they are primarily used for electing members of the House of Representatives, where larger states are given more importance. This is where the concept of “gerrymandering” comes into play, allowing political parties to shape district boundaries to gain an advantage in elections.

How many districts are there?

In the United States, there are 435 electoral districts, represented in the House of Representatives. This body is the lower chamber of the US Congress, with each of its members (representatives) corresponding to a district.

Number of voters

Each electoral district has a set number of eligible voters who can participate in elections held in that area, with turnout usually ranging between 55% and 65%. For the 2024 US elections, record turnout is anticipated, with early voting numbers already reaching 59 million citizens.

In the 2020 election, turnout slightly exceeded the average, with 66.3% of eligible citizens casting their vote.

Electors in each state

The popular vote – meaning the vote cast by all citizens – does not determine who becomes the president of the United States. The final decision is made by the Electoral College, which comprises the electors. Each state is allocated a number of electors based on its population, with some generally being quite easy to predict. Here are the electors for each state in the 2024 US elections:

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