Swing states: Key areas to watch in the 2020 presidential election

As Election Day approaches, all eyes are on the swing states and the Electoral College votes they hold in the United States winner take all voting system. If the last few elections taught us anything, it's a history lesson and how crucial these states can be in picking our president. In orderto win in 2020 President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden need to claim at least 270 electoral votes. This road 2 to 70 is even more challenging because the ongoing pandemic has made voting confusing for Americans and campaigning difficult for the candidates. Additional obstacles, like long early voting lines and few ballot boxes, may also prove to impact the number of voters in key counties. So let's take a closer look at the swing states with the highest number of electoral votes and which way they've swung in the past. Ever since Florida's high profile recount of the Bush versus Gore election in 2000, Florida has developed a reputation for being a controversial swing state. With the exception of 1992 Florida has voted for the winner of the presidential election from 1964 to 2016 the state's electoral votes went to Donald Trump in 2016. After going to Barack Obama in both 2012 and 2000 and eight, George W. Bush won Florida in 2004. We're going to win this state. We're going to win four more years in the White House. We're going to make our country greater than it has ever been. This the most important election in our lifetimes. You could make all the difference here in Florida. You can determine the outcome. This election, a true swing state. Both 2020 candidates have made several visits to Florida. In a final push for votes, Pennsylvania proved to be a dagger to Dems in 2016 when the state's electoral votes went to Trump voting blue. Since 1992 it flipped. Read that election cycle. Overall, Pennsylvania has voted for the presidential winner in 46 elections this year. Pennsylvania, a state with ties to Biden, will be one to watch. Next up. Ohio, the constant swing states electoral votes went to Trump in 2016. Obama won Ohio in both 2012 and 2008. Bush took the state in 2004 and 2000 Since 1964 no candidate has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio. Just next door is Michigan. The state's electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 but from 2000 to 2012 voted for the Democratic presidential nominee, similar to Wisconsin. It had previously been a Democratic stranglehold. Since its admission to the union in 18 37 Michigan has participated in 46 presidential elections and supported the winning candidate 33 times. North Carolina is a state that typically votes read but has gone for Democratic candidates in the past. The state's electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 Romney in 2012 Obama in 2000 and eight and Bush in 2004 and 2000. In fact, since 19 sixties, North Carolina has only voted for the Democratic presidential candidate four times.

Several polling places could have a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election.But what’s a swing state and what can happen? Here’s a review of how key areas have voted and what it all means.Dictionaries define the term as an area that has similar levels of support for each political party’s candidate that could have a key role in the outcome of the presidential race. A study last year calculated what states are considered true swing states, based on factors that include how likely they are to pick the winner. Our list includes those (Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania), except for Colorado — which several news outlets no longer consider a swing state — along with other states included in multiple rankings. Every vote matters, and these states and others all play a role in the 270 electoral votes (a majority of the 538 possible electoral votes) that a candidate needs to win the election.ArizonaThe state’s electoral votes went to Republican candidates during the last four elections. The state currently has 11 electoral votes, which have increased over the last two decades.FloridaThe state’s 29 electoral votes went to Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and Democrat Barack Obama in 2012. Its 27 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008. Republican George W. Bush received its 27 votes in 2004 as well as its 25 votes in 2000.IowaThe state’s six electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. The state’s seven electoral votes in preceding elections went to Obama in 2008, Bush in 2004 and Democrat Al Gore in 2000.Maine 2nd DistrictThe 2nd Congressional District’s one electoral vote in the state went to Trump in 2016, departing from the rest of the state’s three electoral votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton. The 2nd District was consistent with the rest of the state in awarding electoral votes to Obama in 2012 as well as 2008, Democrat John Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000.MichiganThe state’s 16 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 17 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 18 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.MinnesotaThe state’s 10 electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016 and Obama in 2012 as well as 2008. Its votes went to Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000.Nebraska 2nd DistrictThe 2nd Congressional District’s electoral vote, consistent with the rest of the state, went to Trump in 2016, Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. In 2008, it split with the rest of Nebraska, going with Obama. It went to Bush in 2004 and 2000.NevadaThe state’s six electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its five electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its four electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.New HampshireThe state’s four electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016, Obama in 2012 as well as 2008, Kerry in 2004 and Bush in 2000.North CarolinaThe state’s 15 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016, Romney in 2012, Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its 14 electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.OhioThe state’s 18 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 20 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its 21 electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.PennsylvaniaThe state’s 20 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 21 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 23 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.WisconsinThe state’s 10 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016, Obama in 2012 as well as 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 11 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.Two states, Nebraska and Maine, divide up their electoral votes — instead of awarding them to a candidate in a winner-take-all format — and multiple news outlets are noting each has a voting district that could potentially influence the election.Experts are also noting that other key areas to watch also include Georgia and Texas, which have both chosen GOP presidential candidates since 1996 and 1980, respectively.Technically, electoral votes go to both candidates on a party’s platform, choosing both the president and vice president.The changes come as candidates this year have tried to navigate campaigning amid a pandemic that has at times kept them away from voters and left them to resort to virtual and online outreaches, and a surge in voting in advance by mail could also have effects on turnout at the polls.

Several polling places could have a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election.

But what’s a swing state and what can happen? Here’s a review of how key areas have voted and what it all means.

Dictionaries define the term as an area that has similar levels of support for each political party’s candidate that could have a key role in the outcome of the presidential race.

A study last year calculated what states are considered , based on factors that include how likely they are to pick the winner. Our list includes those (Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania), except for Colorado — which several news outlets no longer consider a swing state — along with other states included in multiple rankings.

Every vote matters, and these states and others all play a role in the 270 electoral votes (a majority of the 538 possible electoral votes) that a candidate needs to win the election.

Arizona

The state’s electoral votes went to Republican candidates during the last four elections. The state currently has 11 electoral votes, which have increased over the last two decades.

Florida

The state’s 29 electoral votes went to Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and Democrat Barack Obama in 2012. Its 27 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008. Republican George W. Bush received its 27 votes in 2004 as well as its 25 votes in 2000.

Iowa

The state’s six electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. The state’s seven electoral votes in preceding elections went to Obama in 2008, Bush in 2004 and Democrat Al Gore in 2000.

Maine 2nd District

The 2nd Congressional District’s one electoral vote in the state went to Trump in 2016, departing from the rest of the state’s three electoral votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton. The 2nd District was consistent with the rest of the state in awarding electoral votes to Obama in 2012 as well as 2008, Democrat John Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000.

Michigan

The state’s 16 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 17 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 18 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.

Minnesota

The state’s 10 electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016 and Obama in 2012 as well as 2008. Its votes went to Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000.

Nebraska 2nd District

The 2nd Congressional District’s electoral vote, consistent with the rest of the state, went to Trump in 2016, Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. In 2008, it split with the rest of Nebraska, going with Obama. It went to Bush in 2004 and 2000.

Nevada

The state’s six electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its five electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its four electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.

New Hampshire

The state’s four electoral votes went to Clinton in 2016, Obama in 2012 as well as 2008, Kerry in 2004 and Bush in 2000.

North Carolina

The state’s 15 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016, Romney in 2012, Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its 14 electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.

Ohio

The state’s 18 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 20 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Bush in 2004. Its 21 electoral votes went to Bush in 2000.

Pennsylvania

The state’s 20 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. Its 21 electoral votes went to Obama in 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 23 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.

Wisconsin

The state’s 10 electoral votes went to Trump in 2016, Obama in 2012 as well as 2008 and Kerry in 2004. Its 11 electoral votes went to Gore in 2000.

Two states, Nebraska and Maine, divide up their electoral votes — instead of awarding them to a candidate in a winner-take-all format — and multiple news outlets are noting each has a voting district that could potentially influence the election.

Experts are also noting that other key areas to watch also include Georgia and Texas, which have both chosen GOP presidential candidates since 1996 and 1980, respectively.

Technically, electoral votes go to both candidates on a party’s platform, choosing both the president and vice president.

The changes come as candidates this year have tried to navigate campaigning amid a pandemic that has at times kept them away from voters and left them to resort to virtual and online outreaches, and a surge in voting in advance by mail could also have effects on turnout at the polls.

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