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How the Electoral College Works. Why was it Created?. Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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How the Electoral College Works
Why was it Created?
• Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote.
• Wanted to establish a role for the states in the election process = federalism
• Candidate with an overwhelming majority of votes in one part of the country couldn’t be elected by a slim overall popular majority
United States Constitution• The United States
Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected.
Article II Section: Electoral College
– 538 people called electors responsible for electing the Pres and VP
– # of members in House of Reps (435) + # of members in Senate (100) + 3 for Washington D.C (23rd Amendment) = 538
The Number of Electoral College Votes Each State has is
Determined by:
Number of Representatives
+ Number of Senators
=Total Number of Electoral
College VotesChanges with
Census…Each
State has Two
Senators
Each State has at Least One
Representative
Determined by Population at time of
Census
Ohio 2012 Presidential Election
Number of Representatives
+ Number of Senators
=Total Number of Electoral
College Votes
16 2 18
2010 Census Data
Steps in the Electoral College Process
Step 1: Popular Vote
• On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President
• What we’re actually choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like
• These electors are then supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state
Step 2: Winner Take All• Winner takes all
– Candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state
• 48 States– Nebraska and Maine have
proportional system - each candidate gets some votes
• Majority rules– Candidate who wins the majority of
votes wins the election• Need 270 Votes to win
Step 3: Voting• Meeting of Electors -
Electors meet in each State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December).
Step 4: Counting Ballots
• Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in DC
• The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6 before a joint session of Congress
• If there is a tie, the President will be decided by the House of Representatives
Flaws of the Electoral College
# 1 - Person who doesn’t win popular vote can be elected President
– 4 Elections1. Jackson (41.3%) v. J.Q.
Adams (30.9%)– J.Q. Adams winner
2. Hayes (4.0M) to Tilden (4.2M)– Hayes winner
3. Cleveland (5.5M) to B. Harrison (5.4)– Harrison winner
4. Gore v. Bush (2000)
2000 Presidential Election
435 Representatives
100 Senators
3 Electoral Votes for Washington D.C.+ ______________
538 Electoral College Votes
Majority = 270 Electoral College Votes
Candidate Electoral Votes Popular Vote
George W. Bush 271 50,456,002
Al Gore 266 50,999,897
#2: Electors Don’t Have to Do What We Tell Them To
• Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee
– 1796– 1820– 1948– 1956– 1960– 1968– 1972– 1976– 1988– 2000– 2004 an elector from MN voted for John Edwards (twice, Pres
& VP)