If you’re wondering what the Electoral College might end up looking like by Nov. 4 (hopefully not too much later than that!) this year, here’s a fun little interactive map tool to help you visualize an outcome.
270towin.com’s map allows you click each state to change its outcome, labeling it “safe," “likely” or “leans” with a corresponding red or blue shade. You can also keep states as “toss-ups."
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Try it out (click here if the map does not display below):
Click the map to create your own at Read: Electoral College explained
To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one — or 270 electoral votes.
This hybrid system means that more weight is given to a single vote in a small state than the vote of someone in a large state, leading to outcomes at times that have been at odds with the popular vote.
In fact, part of a presidential candidate’s campaign strategy is drawing a map of states the candidate can and must win to gather 270 electoral votes.