ELECTORAL VOTES 3

2012 ELECTION Safe Obama

ABOUT
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

2010 Census Reapportionment: As has been the case throughout its history, the District of Columbia will remain at 3 electoral votes for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.



Washington, D.C., is the only non-state to be enfranchised for presidential elections, gaining electoral votes through the ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. That amendment gave D.C. a share of electors proportional to its population (like the states), but limited it to no more electors than the least populous state. This meant three electoral votes in 1964, and that number has not changed. Residents of the nation’s capital have always voted Democratic, and always by a wide margin. In 2008, Barack Obama received about 13 votes for every one for John McCain.