Understanding the Electoral College. The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) receives three...

Understanding the Electoral College

The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) receives three electoral votes, as determined by

the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.

majority rule = half + one

538 ) 2 = 269 + 1 = 270

270

What does it take to win?

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

MINIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTORS FOR ANY STATE

THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELECTORS

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

7 smallest states

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

THE SEVEN BIGGEST

THE SEVEN BIGGEST

7 biggest states= 55

= 34

= 31

= 27

= 21

= 21

= 20

WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

4 more states

= 17

= 15

= 15

= 15

How does it work?

Each state’s block of electors assembles in their respective state capitol on the first Monday after the

second Wednesday in December. At this meeting, the electors sign the

Certificate of Vote, which is sealed and delivered to the Office of the President

of the United States Senate.

A special joint session of the U.S. Congress convenes in early January. At this meeting, the

President of the Senate reads the Certificates of Votes and declares

the official winner.

If no presidential candidate receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the president

is chosen by the House of Representatives from among the

three leading candidates.

If no candidate receives a majority of votes for vice president, that official is chosen by the Senate. The choice is made from among

the two candidates with the highest number of electoral votes.

Congress has had to choose the president only twice—in 1800 and 1824—and the vice president only

once—in 1836.

vsvs..Jefferson

J. Adams

Jackson

J.Q. Adams

vsvs..

electors didn’t distinguish whichcandidate they wanted for president and which they wanted for vice president -

corrected by 12th Amendment

too many presidential candidates split the vote making it

impossible for any one of themto achieve a majority vote in

the electoral college

RESULTS OF 2000 ELECTION

electoral college vote in December doesn’t match popular vote in November

RESULTS OF 2008 ELECTION

69,456,897 59,934,814

52.9% 45.7%