Understanding the Electoral College

The District of Columbia (Washington D. C The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) receives three electoral votes, as determined by the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.

majority rule = half + one What does it take to win? majority rule = half + one 538 ) 2 = 269 + 1 = 270 270

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

MINIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTORS FOR ANY STATE

THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELECTORS

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

THE SEVEN SMALLEST

7 smallest states

ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

THE SEVEN BIGGEST

THE SEVEN BIGGEST

7 biggest states = 55 = 34 = 31 = 27 = 21 = 21 = 20

WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

4 more states = 17 = 15 = 15 = 15

How does it work?

Each state’s block of electors assembles in their respective state capitol on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. At this meeting, the electors sign the Certificate of Vote, which is sealed and delivered to the Office of the President of the United States Senate.

A special joint session of the U.S. Congress convenes in early January. At this meeting, the President of the Senate reads the Certificates of Votes and declares the official winner.

If no presidential candidate receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the president is chosen by the House of Representatives from among the three leading candidates. 270

If no candidate receives a majority of votes for vice president, that official is chosen by the Senate. The choice is made from among the two candidates with the highest number of electoral votes. 270

Congress has had to choose the president only twice—in 1800 and 1824—and the vice president only once—in 1836. J. Adams J.Q. Adams vs. vs. Jefferson Jackson

too many presidential candidates split the vote making it impossible for any one of them to achieve a majority vote in the electoral college electors didn’t distinguish which candidate they wanted for president and which they wanted for vice president - corrected by 12th Amendment

RESULTS OF 2000 ELECTION electoral college vote in December doesn’t match popular vote in November

RESULTS OF 2008 ELECTION 69,456,897 52.9% 45.7% 59,934,814