The 2020 presidential election is on Tuesday, November 3. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are in full campaign mode trying to convince voters that they deserve your vote to lead the country. In order to win the presidential nomination, a candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes out of the total 538.
When it comes to national elections, most people have heard the terms red states and blue states. Red states favor Republicans and blue states favor Democrats. However, there is a third group, known as swing states, which play a major role in helping decide the election.
The most well-known swing states that have played a crucial role in elections of the past are Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Here are the key points to know about each of those four states:
Florida
- Number of electoral votes: 29
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
Michigan
- Number of electoral votes: 16
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
Pennsylvania
- Number of electoral votes: 20
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
Wisconsin
- Number of electoral votes: 10
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
As you can see, those four states all voted for the party that won the White House in the past three elections. If history repeats itself, how Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin vote this year, will tell us who wins the presidency.
In addition to those four states, political experts have come up with a list of battleground states that will also have an impact on deciding who gets into the White House. Those states are Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ohio. Here are the key points to know about each of those six states:
Arizona
- Number of electoral votes: 11
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Republican
- 2008: Republican
Georgia
- Number of electoral votes: 16
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Republican
- 2008: Republican
Iowa
- Number of electoral votes: 6
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
Minnesota
- Number of electoral votes: 10
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Democrat
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
North Carolina
- Number of electoral votes: 15
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Republican
- 2008: Democrat
Ohio
- Number of electoral votes: 18
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How the state voted in the past elections:
- 2016: Republican
- 2012: Democrat
- 2008: Democrat
There shouldn’t be much surprise in how the red states and blue states vote come this November 3rd. However, the polling data shows that it’s a very close race in the swing states and battleground states. When it’s all said and done, it’s looking very likely that how those 10 states votes, will determine who becomes the president of the United States.
The hype around the 2020 election is building and voter turnout is projected to be record breaking. If you are unable to go vote in-person, sending in a mail-in/absentee ballot is another option that may be available for you. You can find all the information and rules for your state’s mail-in/absentee ballot process by clicking the button below.
