What is a swing state? Here are the seven battlegrounds

The 2024 general elections are just days away, and the Mid-Atlantic region has become a battleground in itself as presidential candidates Kamala Harris And Donald Trump criss-crossed Pennsylvania in an effort to amplify voices and strengthen their respective bases.

Pennsylvania is one of seven swing or battlefield states participating in this year’s elections. This is what a swing state is, and why both Harris and Trump are concentrating their efforts in the Keystone State and the six other battleground states.

What is a swing state?

The generally accepted definition of a swing state is one where voter support could realistically go to the Democratic or Republican candidate.

These states often have small voting margins, which could theoretically tilt the outcome of the election 2024 presidential election.

What are the swing states in the 2024 presidential election?

Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, PennsylvaniaAnd Wisconsin are considered the swing states in the 2024 general election.

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Although 50 states will vote, these seven battlefields will likely determine whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris becomes the next president of the United States.

What is the Electoral College and how many votes does each swing state have?

The Electoral College is a presidential voting process enshrined in the Constitution. The founding fathers created this system as one compromise between the popular vote, directly among the citizens, and a vote in Congress.

A total of 538 electoral votes have been awarded to each of the 50 states and Washington, DC how many members of Congress it has in Washington. Candidates need 270 votes to win.

Here’s how many electoral college votes each swing state has:

Arizona: 11
Georgia: 16
Michigan: 15
Nevada: 6
North Carolina: 16
Pennsylvania: 19
Wisconsin: 10

Most current projections have Harris collecting 226 electoral votes from non-swing states and Trump 219, with 93 votes up for grabs in swing states.

If that holds true on election night, Harris would need to collect 44 votes from swing states and Trump would need 51 to win the White House.

If Harris gets Pennsylvania’s 19 votes — the most of any swing state — she will likely have locked Trump out of the White House, but if Trump takes the Keystone State early or if it remains undecided for a while, Trump’s chances increase for a second term.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist covering trending topics in the Mid-Atlantic region.