Presidential election: A map showing the vote power of all 50 states.

Which States Have the Most Powerful Votes?

Which States Have the Most Powerful Votes?

A partnership of Slate and the New America Foundation.
Nov. 2 2012 6:04 PM

How Powerful Is Your Vote?

When it comes to voting, not all states are created equal.

There are many reasons to dislike the Electoral College: It gives a handful of states the lion’s share of campaign attention; it allows a candidate with fewer votes to win; it depresses voter turnout in “safe” states; and it’s plain confusing. Now add this one: The electoral power of your vote depends on where you live.

The average electoral vote represents 436,000 people, but that number rises and falls per state depending on that state’s population over 18 years of age. (The map above shows the population 18 years and older per electoral vote by state.) The states with the fewest people per electoral vote, and therefore the highest “vote power,” are Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota. In Wyoming, there are 143,000 people for each of its three electoral votes. The states with the weakest votes are New York, Florida, and California. These states each have around 500,000 people for each electoral vote.

In other words, one Wyoming voter has roughly the same vote power as four New York voters. (Mouse over the map and it will show you where your state ranks in voting power.)

Advertisement

Electoral votes are allocated to the states each decade to reflect population shifts, but every state is guaranteed three electoral votes before allocation kicks in, leaving the least populous states with the most disproportionate number of electoral votes and improving their vote power. That’s why the five states with the most vote power have only three electoral votes.

A state’s vote power also depends on how close the state is to an additional electoral vote. The closer it is, the higher the population per electoral vote. Although the math behind apportionment minimizes this factor, it still results in situations like this: Minnesota has 22,000 more people than Colorado and one more electoral vote, while Wisconsin has 33,000 more people than Minnesota and the same number of electoral votes.

“Vote power,” in the sense used here, doesn’t entirely describe the probability that your individual vote can decisively influence the outcome of the presidential election. To determine that, you also need to know how tight the election is in your state and nationwide. Although a vote in Washington, D.C. is the third most powerful, for example, the probability it will change the outcome of the election is incredibly low.

In the aggregate, though, vote-power disparity does change outcomes, yielding elections, such as the 2000 election, in which the winner is not the one with the highest popular vote. And because the Electoral College mirrors the allocation of representatives in Congress, this map also charts legislative power; 143,000 people in Wyoming have the same number of legislators in Congress as 500,000 in New York.

Loading...
Are Slate's comments not loading even after a few seconds?
Send us your browser and operating system information.
Life Neuropathy
Life Neuropathy|Fighting Neuropathy? Try This ImmediatelySurgeon Reveals Simple Method For Fighting Neuropathy
Undo
Summer Gears
Summer Gears|How To Cool Your Body In 2 Minutes (It Is Genius)
Undo
NerdWallet NMLS ID# 1617539
NerdWallet NMLS ID# 1617539|House Hunting in Mountain View? Try NerdWallet to Compare
Undo
Senior Discounts By National Penny
Senior Discounts By National Penny|Here Are 7 Legal Discounts Seniors Only Get If They AskGreat list of benefits for seniors in 2022
Undo
Unify Health Labs
Unify Health Labs|Randy Jackson: This 3 Minute Routine Transformed My Health
Undo
SmartAdvisorMatch
SmartAdvisorMatch|What the Term "Fiduciary" Means for Your RetirementFiduciary financial advisors have a legal obligation to assist you. Learn the true cost of hiring (or not hiring) an advisor today.
Undo
SmartAsset
SmartAsset|7 Mistakes Successful Retirees in California Know to AvoidEveryone knows they should consult a financial advisor for retirement planning, but how do you choose which one? This free tool makes it simple.
Undo
SUV Deals | Search Ads
SUV Deals | Search Ads|Mountain View: Unsold Never-Driven Cars Now Almost Being Given Away: See Prices
Undo
Fisher Investments
Fisher Investments|7 Retirement Income Strategies Once Your Portfolio Reaches $500k [Free Guide]Download The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income to learn ways to grow your wealth and generate income from your portfolio.
Undo
Airmoto
Airmoto|Popular Smart Pump Inflates Anything
Undo
Fisher Investments
Fisher Investments|7 Retirement Income Strategies Once Your Portfolio Reaches $1 Million [Free Guide]Download The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income to learn ways to help grown your wealth and generate income from your portfolio.
Undo
NewRetirement
NewRetirement|How Much Money Do You Really Get from a Reverse Mortgage?
Undo
TruthFinder
TruthFinder|Locate Almost Anyone By Entering Their Name (This Is Addicting!)
Undo
Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping|The genius shopping trick every Amazon Prime Member should knowGet exclusive savings with Capital One Shopping -- it takes just seconds to sign up and is 100% free even if you don't have a Capital One card
Undo
New VWs | search ads
New VWs | search ads|VW's New EV Lineup Will Leave You Breathless
Undo
Auto Savings Center
Auto Savings Center|Kia Has Done It Again. This Year's Lineup Left Us Speechless (See It Now)
Undo
Benefits Seniors
Benefits Seniors|All Adults Over 45 Are Due a Large Benefit This Month (Check If You Qualify)
Undo
×We’ve been holding Trump to account all year. Help us keep going. Become a member.