Which term describes a system where a state's electoral votes are awarded entirely to whichever candidate wins the popular vote in that state?

• A. Winner-take-all system
• B. Top-two primary
• C. Voter fatigue
• D. Citizen journalism

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is the winner-take-all approach to awarding electoral votes. In this system, the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes. That's why a statewide victory translates into full electoral influence from that state, making the outcome of the popular vote in each state crucial for building a path to 270 electoral votes. This setup can amplify the importance of a few key states, and in some elections a candidate can win the presidency by winning enough states by narrow margins even if their overall national vote share isn’t the largest. Note that a couple of states use a district-based allocation, but the general description matches the winner-take-all arrangement. The other terms reference different concepts in politics and don’t describe how electors are allocated.