<P> Each state chooses electors , equal in number to that state 's combined total of senators and representatives . There are a total of 538 electors , corresponding to the 435 representatives and 100 senators , plus the three electors for the District of Columbia as provided by the Twenty - third Amendment . The Constitution bars any federal official , elected or appointed , from being an elector . The Office of the Federal Register is charged with administering the Electoral College . Since the mid-19th century when all electors have been popularly chosen , the Electoral College has elected the candidate who received the most popular votes nationwide , except in four elections : 1876 , 1888 , 2000 , and 2016 . In 1824 , there were six states in which electors were legislatively appointed , rather than popularly elected , so the true national popular vote is uncertain ; the electors failed to select a winning candidate , so the matter was decided by the House of Representatives . </P>
what is the number of total presidential electoral votes
538