As the most populous state in the U.S. — more than 39.5 million people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census — California has the most electoral votes of any state at 54. It represents a significant prize for presidential candidates in their quest to secure 270 electoral votes,

CALIFORNIA, USA — As the electoral vote is tallied for the presidential election, the West Coast is still waiting to make its impact. Among the western states, California dwarfs the others with a whopping 54 electoral votes. The Electoral College has had 538 votes for decades. It's the 270 votes that ultimately determine who takes the White House.

The Electoral College is how the president of the United States is elected. In the U.S., there are 538 votes up for grabs between all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To win the election, a candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes which is the majority of the College.