Americans vote in the state where they live. Each state adds up the number of votes each candidate received. Each state announces who won the vote in their state.

But are all the states the same? No. The bigger states will have more electoral votes because more people live there. California will have more votes than Rhode Island. For example, California has 55 votes. Rhode Island has 4 votes.

The votes are added up by something called the Electoral College. It takes 270 electoral votes to win a U.S. election.

The popular vote may be different than the electoral vote. In 2016, Hillary Clinton got almost three million more votes than Trump. But Trump won in electoral votes.

States that might go Republican are called the red states. States that might go Democratic are called the blue states.

States with no clear preference are called purple or “battleground” states.

What about countries around the world? Are they red or blue?

Experts say Israel is a red state. That is because President Trump has done things to support its leader. For example, he moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem.

Some other countries (for example, Germany and Australia) think that Trump is crazy. They believe Trump has no use for alliances that do not help him. They are blue states.

Experts say Ukraine is a purple state. That is because it is afraid that Trump will push them to declare him the winner.

What about China? They see the U.S. election as a battle between two old men. But the Chinese leaders says Trump’s approach to trade does not work. China might be a purple state.

Russia is hoping for chaos in the U.S. following the November 3rd election. Most people there do not care who wins. Considerate it a purple state.

Europe does not like Trump. People believe Trump wants to get America out of its role in the world. Considerate it a blue state.

Great Britain’s leaders like Trump. Its people like Biden. It would be a blue state if it could vote in the U.S. election.

Central and European leaders think Trump will help them keep Russia away. They are red states.

People stuck along the Mexican side of the border want Biden. Commentators say the Mexican people have no reason to vote for Trump. Color Mexico blue.

Some say Nigeria supports Trump because, as a reverend said, “You have to go with Trump. He has brought Christianity to the White House.”

Leadership in South Korea thinks Trump may want to work with North Korea. Polls show the South Koreans favor Biden by almost four to one.

Egyptian leaders like Trump, but it is not clear where the people stand. In fact, dictator-type governments Saudi Arabia and Turkey all favor Trump.

Source: The New York Times