How are electoral votes allocated to each state?

Electoral votes are allocated to each state primarily based on population, as determined by the most recent census. Each state receives a number of electoral votes equal to the sum of its Senators (which is always two) and its Representatives in the House. The number of Representatives for each state can change every ten years with the decennial census, reflecting shifts in population. This allocation method ensures that states with larger populations have a proportionately greater influence in the Electoral College during presidential elections. As a result, states with significant populations, like California and Texas, have many more electoral votes compared to less populated states like Wyoming or Vermont. This system aims to balance the influence of both populous and less populous states in the electoral process.