1. How the Electoral College Works
Unit: Election by the Numbers

2. United States Constitution
The United States Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected.
The two main sections that deal with the electing of the President are:
Article I Section II: Census
Article II Section I: Electoral College

3. What is a census and why do we have one?
A census is the actual counting of people.
The Constitution requires that a census be performed every ten years because populations tend to shift throughout the country.
The number of representatives that a state has is dependent upon population.

4. After the 1990 census, the state of Connecticut had six US representatives based upon their population. After the 2000 census, Connecticut lost one representative seat and now has only five representatives.
Much of the population shift has been southward. For example, Georgia was allocated eleven representatives in That number has grown to thirteen representatives after the 2000 census.

5. The Number of Electoral College Votes Each State has is Determined by:
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Representatives
Number of Senators + =
May Change with Census…
Each State has Two Senators
Each State has at Least One Representative

6. Connecticut 2000 Presidential Election
1990 Census Data
Number of Representatives
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Senators + = 6 2 8

7. Connecticut 2004 Presidential Election
2000 Census Data
Number of Representatives
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Senators + = 5 2 7

8. Georgia 2000 Presidential Election
1990 Census Data
Number of Representatives
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Senators + = 11 2 13

9. Georgia 2004 Presidential Election
2000 Census Data
Number of Representatives
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Senators + = 13 2 15

10. How is a President Elected?
The candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state.
The first candidate to receive a majority of the electoral college votes from all the states is elected president.
If there is no majority, the House of Representatives will choose between the top three candidates.

11. 2000 Presidential Election
435 Representatives
100 Senators
3 Electoral Votes for Washington D.C. +
______________
538 Electoral College Votes
Majority = 270 Electoral College Votes
George W. Bush
Al Gore
One Electoral Vote was NOT cast