How many electoral votes?
Virginia is listed with 13 electoral votes in this generated guide.
Electoral College
Virginia Electoral College votes and elector rules
Virginia has 13 electoral votes. See allocation method, elector pledge status, selection process, and verification links.
State Summary
What to know about Virginia Electoral College rules
How are votes awarded?
Virginia is listed as winner-take-all. Under that summary, the statewide popular-vote winner receives the state's Electoral College votes.
Are electors pledged?
Virginia is listed as requiring presidential electors to vote as pledged. The rule details summarize available pledge, replacement, penalty, or enforcement context from the state model.
What should I verify?
Confirm vote allocation, elector pledge enforcement, vacancy replacement, certification, and meeting procedures with official state or federal materials before relying on a legal detail.
Rules
Virginia elector pledge and vote allocation rules
Quick Facts
Electoral College rule snapshot
- Electoral votes
- 13
- Allocation method
- Winner-takes-all
- Elector pledge
- Yes
- Election code
- V.A. 24.2-542; 24.2-203
Allocation
Winner-takes-all
Virginia is one of the 48 states that have a winner-takes-all rule for the Electoral College. In these States, whichever candidate receives a majority of the popular vote, or a plurality of the popular vote (less than 50 percent but more than any other candidate), takes all of the state’s Electoral votes.
Elector Pledge
Yes
Virginia is one of the states have passed laws that require their electors to vote as pledged. These laws may either impose a fine on an elector who fails to vote according to the statewide or district popular vote, or may disqualify an elector who violates his or her pledge and provide a replacement elector.
Process
How Virginia electors are selected and vote
These notes summarize the elector selection, vacancy, meeting, or voting details available in the structured state model.
How Does Virginia Select Its Electors?
In elections for President and Vice President of the United States, the appropriate chairman or secretary of each political party shall furnish to the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election the names of the electors selected by the party at its convention held for that purpose, together with the names of the political party and of the candidates for President and Vice President...
When Do The Electors Vote?
The electors shall convene at the capitol building in the capital city of the Commonwealth at 12:00 noon on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December following their election. Those electors present shall immediately fill, by ballot and by a plurality of votes, any vacancy due to death, failure or inability to attend, refusal to act, or other cause. When all electors are present, or the vacancies have...
Sources
Sources and verification links
Questions
Common questions
How many Electoral College votes does Virginia have?
Virginia is listed with 13 Electoral College votes.
How does Virginia allocate electoral votes?
Virginia is listed as winner-take-all. Under that summary, the statewide popular-vote winner receives the state's Electoral College votes.
Are Virginia electors pledged?
Virginia is listed as requiring presidential electors to vote as pledged. The rule details summarize available pledge, replacement, penalty, or enforcement context from the state model.
How are Virginia presidential electors selected?
In elections for President and Vice President of the United States, the appropriate chairman or secretary of each political party shall furnish to the State Board by noon of the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election the names of the electors selected by the party at its convention held...
When do Virginia electors vote?
The electors shall convene at the capitol building in the capital city of the Commonwealth at 12:00 noon on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December following their election. Those electors present shall immediately fill, by ballot and by a plurality of votes, any vacancy due to...
Where can I verify Virginia Electoral College rules?
Use official state or federal materials when available. This page links to selected sources including The Electoral College in Virginia and How does the state select its electors.
Glossary
Key Electoral College terms for Virginia
- Virginia Electoral Votes
- Virginia is listed with 13 electoral votes for the Electoral College in this generated guide.
- Virginia Allocation Method
- Virginia is listed as winner-take-all. Under that summary, the statewide popular-vote winner receives the state's Electoral College votes.
- Virginia Elector Pledge
- Virginia is listed as requiring presidential electors to vote as pledged. The rule details summarize available pledge, replacement, penalty, or enforcement context from the state model.
- Presidential Elector
- A person appointed through the state's presidential election process to cast Electoral College votes for president and vice president.