On November 8, 2016, the United States presidential election produced the following Electoral College result: Donald Trump received 304 electoral votes, Hillary Clinton received 227 electoral votes, and seven electors cast faithless votes. The outcome was certified by Congress on January 6, 2017, following the November 301969 vote count in each state and the December 1969 meeting of the Electoral College. This verified explainer outlines the results, the path to certification, and enduring context for interpreting the 2016 Electoral College outcome.
How the 2016 Electoral College Result Was Determined
The 2016 election followed the standard constitutional process: states counted votes, appointed electors, and submitted Certificates of Ascertainment and Votes. After the November election, the appointed electors met in their state capitals in December to cast their ballots. Congress then convened a joint session on January 6, 2017, to count the electoral votes and formally certify the result. The 2016 outcome reflects this established federal procedure, with state-level certification and the Electoral College meeting serving as durable mechanisms.
Key State Outcomes and Electoral Votes
The distribution of electoral votes in 2016 was decided by results in several pivotal states. The table below summarizes the verified electoral vote allocation for the top candidates, based on official state results and the Congressional Record of the joint session count.
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | States Contributing Largest Portion | Date of State Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | 304 | Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin | November 30–December 1, 2016 |
| Hillary Clinton | 227 | California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland | November 30, 2016 |
Faithless Electors in 2016
Seven electors did not vote for their pledged candidate: two from Washington, two from Texas, and one each from Hawaii, Minnesota, and Colorado. Four of the five Democratic-affiliated faithless electors sought to change the outcome, while Republican-affiliated electors cited conscience reasons. No faithless vote altered the overall result, and the Supreme Court later upheld states’ ability to enforce elector pledges.
Popular Vote and State-by-State Margin Context
While the Electoral College determines the winner, the popular vote provides additional context. Nationwide, Hillary Clinton received about 2.1 million more raw votes than Donald Trump. However, because the presidency is decided by the Electoral College, the distribution of votes across states matters more. Close margins in Michigan (10,704), Pennsylvania (44,292), and Wisconsin (22,748) were decisive in allocating their combined 46 electoral votes to Trump.
Post-Election Certification and Legal Challenges
Following the election, multiple lawsuits were filed in several states over counting procedures and access. Courts largely resolved these cases before the Electoral College met, and no lawsuit changed the certified result in any state that contributed to the final Electoral College outcome. The December meeting of electors and the January 6 joint session confirmed the result, which has remained consistent in official records.
Enduring Implications of the 2016 Electoral College Result
The 2016 outcome illustrates how Electoral College results can diverge from the national popular vote and how a candidate can secure the presidency while losing the popular vote. It also shows the practical impact of narrow margins in swing states, the role of faithless electors, and the resilience of constitutional processes. For ongoing civic and educational reference, the verified result remains: 304 electoral votes for Donald Trump and 227 for Hillary Clinton, with congressional certification on January 6, 2017.
Comparison With Other Recent Outcomes
Placing 2016 alongside other elections helps clarify its distinct pattern. The table below contrasts the Electoral College and popular vote outcomes for recent presidential elections, supporting long-term perspective.
| Year | Electoral College Winner | Electoral Votes (Winner) | Popular Vote Margin | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Barack Obama | 332 | Popular vote winner by ~5 million | Two-party popular vote margin ~3.9% |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | 304 | Popular vote loser by ~2.1 million | Won 3 states by |
| 2020 | Joe Biden | 306 | Popular vote winner by ~7 million | Election featured expanded mail voting |
Reliable Sources and Verification Notes
Details in this explainer are drawn from official state Certificates of Ascertainment, the National Archives Federal Register records on electors, the Congressional Record of the January 6, 2017 joint session, and Supreme Court opinions in related cases. These sources provide an authoritative baseline for understanding how the 2016 Electoral College result was produced and verified.