Necessary for Democracy or Antiquated System?

What is the point?Constitution – debate over commoners selecting the leader

Safeguard against ignorance – there is a way to change it if the people “mess up”

Helps small states – review the mathHelps rural areas – cities can’t control everything, small towns get attention

How it works• Each party picks their list of electors at

a party convention (party supporters, people with ties to candidate)

• In general election citizens cast ballots for candidate (some states list electors)

• Winner gets all electoral votes for state (except ME & NE)

• Electors NOT bound by Constitution to vote for winning candidate, but some states have laws. NJ does not.

How It Works• Electoral votes = # of Members in

House and Senate (NJ has 15). • Votes get reapportioned every 10 years

after census• Total of 538 – 270 to win (majority)• Electors cast ballots to officially elect

president• If no majority, it goes to Congress to

decide

Do the MathCalifornia population 34 million electoral votes 55

people per vote 618,182Alaska population 627,000

electoral votes 3 people per vote 209,000

Each vote in Alaska represents 3 times as many people!People in states with small populations have more “electoral

power” per person.

Problems1800 – Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in

E.C.; Jefferson won in Congress, Burr became VP

1824 – Jackson won popular, no majority in E.C., Adams selected by Congress

1876 – Tilden won popular, no majority in E.C., Congress elected Hayes in a deal

1888 – Cleveland won popular, Harrison won E.C.

2000 – Gore won popular, Bush won E.C.

What do you think?Are the arguments for the electoral college still valid? Explain

Do you think it is outdated or necessary? Why?

Is it easy to “fix” the system? Why or why not?

Electoral Maps

http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/