While the idea of “one person, one vote” promises equal influence in national elections, WalletHub’s Vote Power Score paints a different picture. Based on factors such as geography, political competitiveness, and electoral math, their latest analysis highlights 12 states where individual voters have the least influence in choosing the president.
District of Columbia
Vote Power Score: 0.00
D.C. was granted three electoral votes via the 23rd Amendment in 1961, equal to the minimum given to any state. It has no voting representation in the Senate and has never awarded an electoral vote to a Republican candidate.
In 2024, Kamala Harris received 14 votes for every one vote cast for Donald Trump. This fact highlights D.C.’s strong Democratic lean and its limited influence in shaping national outcomes.
West Virginia
Vote Power Score: 0.00
Now a Republican stronghold, West Virginia sees minimal presidential campaign attention due to its partisan predictability and low voter turnout.
With economic challenges, population decline, and youth disengagement, many residents feel their votes carry little weight. Advocacy groups are working to increase participation, particularly in climate-related issues, but voter influence remains limited.
Wyoming
Vote Power Score: 0.00
Wyoming, the least populous U.S. state, has just three electoral votes. Those votes are almost always guaranteed to go to the Republican candidate, making the state one of the most predictable in presidential elections.
Despite having the lowest residents-per-electoral-vote ratio, Wyoming’s long-standing partisan loyalty and minimal competition mean presidential campaigns often overlook it. The state’s Republican streak stretches back to 1968, and in 2016, Donald Trump won by a striking 46-point margin.
Oklahoma
Vote Power Score: 0.14
Oklahoma has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000, making it one of the most reliably red states in the country. Democratic presidential candidates haven’t won any counties in Oklahoma since 2004.
The state currently holds seven electoral votes, a number that has remained unchanged since the 2004 election. Oklahoma’s lack of competitiveness means presidential campaigns rarely invest resources or time here. The state’s predictable outcomes and limited national attention leave individual voters with minimal influence in shaping presidential results.
North Dakota
Vote Power Score: 0.20
North Dakota’s reliably Republican track record and small population make it one of the least competitive states in presidential elections. With just three electoral votes and a voting history favoring the GOP in 27 out of 33 elections, the state’s outcomes are rarely in doubt.
In 2020, Donald Trump carried North Dakota with 65% of the vote, reinforcing its reputation as a red stronghold. So, individual influence on national outcomes remains modest.
Maryland
Vote Power Score: 0.21
Maryland consistently votes Democratic in presidential elections, with no Republican victories since 1988. Despite its population size and ten electoral votes, the state’s strong partisan lean makes it a low priority for national campaigns.
In 2024, Kamala Harris won Maryland by nearly a 29-point margin over Donald Trump. This lack of competitiveness means individual votes in Maryland carry less strategic weight in shaping presidential outcomes.
Idaho
Vote Power Score: 0.21
Idaho has long been a Republican stronghold, voting GOP in nearly every presidential election since 1952. With just four electoral votes and a relatively small population, the state sees slight variation in outcomes.
Donald Trump won Idaho by a margin of over 35% in 2024. This predictability means presidential campaigns rarely target Idaho for outreach or resources, leaving its voters with limited influence in shaping competitive national contests.
Vermont
Vote Power Score: 0.23
Nestled in New England with just three electoral votes, Vermont doesn’t see much presidential campaign drama. It’s been voting blue for decades, and its small population means outcomes are rarely in doubt.
In 2024, Kamala Harris won the state by more than 30 points, typical of Vermont’s steady Democratic lean. That reliability allows national campaigns to focus elsewhere, while Vermonters quietly cast their ballots with predictability.
Massachusetts
Vote Power Score: 0.23
Massachusetts has a long and storied electoral history, participating in every presidential election since 1788. Once a swing state, it has leaned reliably Democratic since 1928, with only four Republican wins since then—twice each for Eisenhower and Reagan.
Over time, Massachusetts has lost a third of its electoral votes, dropping from 18 to 11. In 2024, Kamala Harris won the state by a 25-point margin over Donald Trump, underscoring its continued partisan stability and limited competitiveness in national contests.
California
Vote Power Score: 0.28
California boasts the largest population and 54 electoral votes—over 10% of the national total—but its reliably Democratic lean makes it one of the least competitive states in presidential elections. Once a Republican stronghold, California shifted to blue in the 1990s, primarily due to demographic changes, including a growing Latino population.
Despite Kamala Harris winning the state in 2024, her 20-point margin over Donald Trump marked the narrowest Democratic victory since 2004. With outcomes rarely in doubt, individual votes in California carry less strategic weight in shaping national results.
Arkansas
Vote Power Score: 0.41
With a strong Republican lean and a history of predictable outcomes, presidential campaigns rarely bother to compete in Arkansas. The state has voted GOP in 11 of the last 14 elections, and in 2024, Donald Trump won by nearly 31 points. That kind of margin leaves little room for voter influence.
Turnout tells a similar story. Arkansas consistently ranks near the bottom in national voter participation, and many residents feel that their ballots don’t make much of a difference.
Kentucky
Vote Power Score: 0.59
Kentucky has eight electoral votes and a strong Republican lean, making it a predictable player in presidential elections. Though more populous than some low-ranking states, its lack of competitiveness limits voter influence.
Once a Democratic stronghold, Kentucky shifted right in the 1950s, with only a few exceptions, such as those of southern Democrats like Carter and Clinton. In 2024, Donald Trump won by a 31-point margin, reinforcing the state’s partisan stability and its modest role in shaping national outcomes.
