How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes, which is set at 270 out of the total 538 available. This majority requirement ensures that the winning candidate has a sufficient level of support across various states, rather than merely winning the popular vote nationwide. Each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress, reflecting both its number of senators and representatives. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the importance of achieving this specific number of electoral votes to secure the presidency in the Electoral College system established by the U.S. Constitution.