Assume that 50,000,000 votes are cast in the next U.S. presidential election.

What is the smallest number of these votes that a candidate could receive and still be elected president?

[Your answer need not be probable, but it should have at least one chance in 1,000,000 of actually happening.]

1 vote

Let there be candidates A, B and C.  Let A & B each get less than 270 electoral votes, splitting those from 49 states.

Let C win the electoral votes from one state by receiving 1 vote, which is the only valid vote cast in that state.

Alternatively, if you think that 1 vote in a state is too improbable, then let C get 2 votes in a state where all the remaining votes in that state go, 1 vote each, to a huge number of other candidates.  Then the solution is 2 votes.

Either case above seems to fit the 1 chance in a million stated in the problem.

At this point the election is to be decided by the US House or Representatives since no one got the minimum of 270 Electoral votes.  The House is required to pick from those with the top 3 electoral votes, which includes C, and indeed they pick C.

Edited on March 17, 2024, 9:04 am

Edited on March 17, 2024, 9:04 am

Edited on March 17, 2024, 9:05 am

Posted by Kenny M on 2024-03-17 09:03:42