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: Total Number of Electoral College Votes Number of Representatives Number of Senators + = Changes 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 2010 Census Data Number of Representatives Total Number of Electoral College Votes Number of Senators + = 16 2 18

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 Majority rules 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 Elections Jackson (41.3%) v. J.Q. Adams (30.9%) J.Q. Adams winner Hayes (4.0M) to Tilden (4.2M) Hayes winner Cleveland (5.5M) to B. Harrison (5.4) Harrison winner 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)