Winning the Votes

This passage shows how the Electoral College shapes campaign strategies. Candidates spend more time in battleground states where elections are close. Swing states may change parties, while safe states usually stay the same. Smaller states still matter because their electoral votes can add up. Over time, strategies have changed, but candidates must still focus on winning key states.

Vocabulary expands with terms like “battleground” and “strategies.” Comprehension is strengthened by following how campaigns work. Critical thinking develops as students consider why some states matter more than others. Grammar improves with exposure to cause-and-effect language. Summarizing trains them to capture campaign strategies in simple terms.