THIRD PARTIES AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

First…a video

Number Two, 2010 NY Gubernatorial debate “Rent Is Too Damn High Party” Candidate

On youtube if the vid doesn’t play

3 Types of Third Parties

Single Issue Party – Party only concerned with single issue Parties devoted to legalization Free Soil Party – first party devoted solely to

ending slavery Ideological Party – overall systemic

change Socialist Party

Splinter Party – Breaks off from a major party Progressive a.k.a. Bull Moose Party

Impacts and Obstacles Positive Impacts

Bring up controversial issues Give a way to disagree with “politics as usual” Reinforce “Democracy”

Negative Impacts Much time and effort running with very little to show for

it “spoiler effect” – may “steal” votes away from more

ideologically similar major candidate TR and Taft; Nader and Gore

Obstacles Cost Appeal Name Recognition

Selecting a Candidate

Petition Gather signatures to prove viability

Primary Most common – voters choose favorite candidate

Open – voter can choose which party’s primary to vote in Closed – must be registered member of the party to vote

Caucus Meeting of party members to choose candidates,

discuss platform Historically ONLY party leaders – now much more open

And now on to Electoral College . . .

Why Electoral College? WHY???

Framers distrusted voters most voters relatively uneducated Framers want elite to actually select the

president Presumably better-informed Choose people with actual political

knowledge/experience

“It would be as unnatural to refer the choice . . . to the people as it would to refer a trial of colours to a blind man.”-George Mason

What’s the Electoral College? WHAT???

Each state allotted number of electors based on total number of Representatives and Senators MN = 8 Reps + 2 Sens or 10 electoral votes

Electors are individuals chosen by each party in each state Usually a “reward” for faithful service NOT the Reps and Sens themselves

Electors meet and cast ballots (one each for Prez and Vice Prez) in December, to be counted in January when new Congressional Session opens

Electoral College Particulars cont’d

A candidate needs a true majority (not a plurality) to win the Electoral College outright 435 Reps + 100 Senators + 3 votes for DC =

538 votes, thus a majority is at least 270 Electoral Votes

If no candidate has a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President based on one vote per state, Senate chooses Vice President with each Senator casting a ballot

Still more Electoral College Particulars

Each state has power to determine how to distribute electoral votes

48 states winner-take-all Maine and Nebraska proportional

allocation 2 Electoral votes allotted to overall

winner, other votes divided based on who won each district.

Occasionally this happens elsewhere – “faithless electors”

The PowerPoint Road Diverges… Depending on the time…

Lots Less

A look at some historical elections . . .

1800 – 36 ballots in the House 1860 – Lincoln – note the divided nation 1912 – Impact of “Third Parties” 1932 – Impact of Great Depression 1972 – Huge Landslide – Nixon 2000 – most recent popular-vote loser 2004 – “Oops” in Minnesota

Examples snipped from: http://www.100bestwebsites.org/alt/evmaps/electoral-maps.htm

1800 – T-Jeff’s squeaker

Electors cast two ballots each, most votes would be Prez, 2nd most VP. Jefferson’s electors ALL cast their second ballots for Aaron Burr resulting in a tie. It took the House 36 votes to finally choose Jefferson

1860 – A Nation Divided

Nation dividing clearly along North/South lines. How can we resolve this pending disaster I wonder?

1912 – Bull Mooses butt heads with Republicans

Taft OR Roosevelt likely could have won; Taft AND Roosevelt split the votes allowing Wilson to win

1932 – Republicans blamed for Depression

Hoover didn’t cause the Depression, but it happened on his party’s watch. FDR reaps the rewards

1972 – Landslide win for R.M. Nixon

Nixon’s re-election bid sweeps all but one state and DC. He would resign in August of ‘74 due to Watergate scandal

2000 – Gore and the Florida Nightmare

Electoral College thrust back into public debate

2004 – John Edwards probable only ever Presidential Electoral Vote

Note the faithless elector voting for John Edwards in MN.

A Couple Fun/Awesome campaign ads – Dale Peterson gives a RIP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GabMEHfCjT0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAShu7PKcI

And if MORE time permitting Wisconsin State Assembly

“Statement of principle” – *warning* some salty language

Does the Electoral College need fixin’?

Keep in mind, only 4 times in nation’s history has the popular vote winner not won the presidency

What are some possible reforms? What benefits might each offer? What are some obstacles to reform?