The Financial Times has launched the FT Election Game, an interactive model of the US electoral college where players campaign against other FT readers in the race for the White House. The game is available to both subscribers and non-subscribers.

The Election Game simulates the challenges and decisions that candidates face as they navigate the electoral map. Players take on the role of a presidential candidate with a budget of resources, competing to outsmart their rivals across the nation’s battleground states.

Oliver Roeder, FT senior data journalist, said: “When they created the electoral college 240 years ago, the founding fathers accidentally created a fascinating game — with rules and rewards, strategies and tactics. Allowing readers to play this game for themselves, and against themselves, reveals the richness and subtleties of American presidential campaigns.”

The Election Game is a part of the FT’s in-depth coverage of the 2024 US presidential election, which also includes the twice-weekly US Election Countdown newsletter, live poll tracker, and monthly FT-Michigan Ross poll. 

To play the FT Election Game, visit: ft.com/us-election-game 

How the Election Game works

You are running for president. Your political opponents are other FT readers. You’ll face them in a series of one-on-one contests. You are competing in 10 states, where polling shows tight races. Each has its own prize of electoral votes, with 100 total up for grabs. Beyond these states, the race is deadlocked — triumph in the battlegrounds and you’ll win the White House.

You have 100 credits to spend. Think of them as campaign resources: money, staff, time. Deploy them however you wish. Your opponents will have done the same. Whoever spends the most in a state or district wins its electoral votes. Whoever wins the most electoral votes wins the election. You can run as many times as you like, adjusting your approach in response to the strategies of other players.

Ends

For more information, please contact: Leah Graf | leah.graf@ft.com

About the Financial Times

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of 1.4 million, more than one million of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.