The correct answer is that electoral votes under the proportional plan are allocated proportionately to the popular vote in each state. This means that instead of a winner-takes-all approach, which is used in most states, electoral votes would be distributed based on the percentage of votes each candidate receives in the popular vote within that state.
For example, if a state has 10 electoral votes and Candidate A receives 60% of the popular vote while Candidate B receives 40%, then Candidate A would receive 6 electoral votes, and Candidate B would receive 4. This method is designed to better reflect the preferences of the voters in the state, ensuring that smaller parties and candidates can receive recognition in the electoral outcome according to their level of support.
This contrasts with methods that would either randomly assign votes, utilize a majority vote nationwide without regard to state-specific results, or divide votes equally amongst candidates, which would diminish the impact of popular support in each state. The proportional plan aims to create a more representative electoral process, aligning electoral outcomes more closely with the actual voting behavior of citizens.