Electoral College question.

[Mr.Bill]

when the Electoral College meets and votes, is 270 votes required to elect the President, or will a simple majority at that point do the job?

If it requires 270 I would worry it wouldn't be difficult for the republicans to plant one rogue elector. If this is the case, it would be good to have more than 270 when all the votes are counted.

[leftieNanner]

1. You are correct

It takes 270, which is the lowest number it can be out of 538 for a win. One faithless elector could mess that up, so you are also right that more than 270 would be a nice cushion to prevent that.

[TwilightZone]

2. 270 is a simple majority.

There are 538 total. 270 means 270-268.

There aren't likely going to be any faithless electors. Most states have laws intended to bind them, and in my opinion, it's just something else for pundits to talk about.

Obviously, more than 270 puts a stop to any possibility, as you noted.

[unblock]

3. it's 270 (majority of the 538 possible) not whoever has the most votes. plurality isn't enough.

is no one gets 270, the newly elected house decides in january, with one vote per state, which is looking likely to mean donnie would win a 269-269 tie, fortunately a tie seems unlikely now.

electors are chosen by the party for their loyalty, so and i seriously doubt there would be a faithless elector in an election where it matters.