So again, as in 2000, the Democrats won the popular vote and lost the election. This happens because the low population states are intentionally over-represented. Every state receives an electoral college vote for each Congressional seat plus 2, one for each Senate seat. In the big states, like California and Texas, these extra two seats represent a tiny percentage of the population. In the many sparsely populated states, these two Electoral College votes significantly increase the contribution to the election of these states, disproportionate to their populations as a percentage of the entire US population.
Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota and Alaska, for example, have one Congressional seat and 3 electoral votes. That triples the electoral value of these states. Other largely rural, sparsely populated states have a similar effect on the Electoral College. Of the States that provide 6 electoral votes or fewer, meaning they are weighted 150% or higher in relation to their actual population, Clinton won 38 Electoral votes and Trump won 74. While each state seems insignificant, that difference of 26 Electoral votes from these states ultimately matters a great deal. 26 Electoral College votes is more than one receives from any of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania or any other large vote state except for the big four, Texas, California, New York and Florida, which the candidates split. When Trump won the small States, largely uncontested, he won the fifth huge state.
The big states carry a lot of electoral votes, and are critical to success, but their Electoral College value is much closer to their actual population as a percentage of the country. The winner gets a comparatively small benefit from the extra Senatorial Electoral College votes.
Taking a high percentage of the sparsely populated states allows the Republicans to secure fewer actual popular votes and still win the election with more Electoral College votes. If the Dems want to win next time, they may have to figure out a way to appeal to these sparsely populated, Electoral Vote heavy, states.
