Election Outcome

Definition

The final result of an election, determining which candidate or party has won the majority of votes.

Analogy

Think of the election outcome as the final score in a basketball game. After all the points have been counted, one team (or candidate) comes out on top.

Related terms

Electoral College: The group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state choose their electors. It's like choosing team captains who then pick their teams - except here, they're picking our national leaders.

Popular Vote: The total number or percentage of votes cast for a candidate by voters in the 50 states and Washington D.C., not including the electoral votes. Like counting individual cheers from fans at a concert - it shows overall popularity but doesn't necessarily determine who wins.

Voter Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Like how many students show up for class - it can affect how much is learned (or what results are achieved).