Per the Associated Press, Joe Biden has won the 2020 election to become the 46th President of the United States.
The former Vice President surpassed the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the election after being declared victorious in Pennsylvania.
The Associated Press has declared that Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday [November 7].
The AP adds that Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.
NBC and CNN have also declared Biden as the projected winner of the election.
As of this writing, Biden has earned 273 electoral votes, whereas Trump remains on 214. It is important to note that votes are still being counted.
The 2020 election saw both the Democratic and Republican candidates receive a record number of votes.
Per the Washington Post, reported that Biden had received a record 74,478,345 votes, breaking the record set by Barack Obama for most ever votes for a US presidential candidate.
Trump also received a record-breaking 70,329,970, marking a considerable increase from the votes he received in 2016.
Per BBC News, The Trump campaign has suggested that their candidate is not planning to concede the election. The result defies tradition, making Donald Trump the first one-term president since the 1990s.
Biden, 77, will be the oldest president in American history. The record was previously held by Donald Trump, who is 74.
When Biden is officially sworn is as the POTUS, this will also make running mate Kamala Harris the very first woman to hold the Vice President position.
What is the Electoral College System?
The 2020 US election results will be determined by the electoral college system – not the American voter.
Many incorrectly believe that the national vote dictates who becomes president and vice-president. But the truth is, although the public directly elects governors, mayors and members of Congress, it's the electoral college that decides who goes into the White House.
The electoral college is a group of 538 people that meet every four years shortly after Election Day to choose the winner of the US presidency. It's made up of representatives from each state, who are appointed by their corresponding political parties.
The number of members each state is allowed is determined by its population. California has the most with a staggering 55 electors while smaller states like Alaska have just three – which is the minimum.
Each member of the electoral college represents one vote. Typically, each elector casts their vote based on whoever won the public vote in their state – however, this isn't always the case.
To win the 2020 US election, Donald Trump or Joe Biden will need to win the majority of these votes – which is 270 is more.
Under the current system, if Biden were to win 91% of the vote in California, he would secure all of the state's 55 electoral votes. If he won just 51% of the vote, he would still walk away with all 55 electoral votes.
This is why it's possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote but still win the US presidential election.
Back in 2013, Hilary Clinton received 3 million more votes more than Trump but lost the race. That's because he received 57% of the electoral college votes.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow...
