How We Elect Our President Electoral College

How are electors allotted among the states? Population Representation

How Many Electors Do They Have? Ohio 18 – 2010 / Top 5 States California – 55 No change Texas – New York – Florida – PA/IL –

States With Three Electors Alaska Delaware Montana North Dakota South Dakota Vermont Wyoming DC – Special Case

Do the Presidential Electors Vote by State? Winner Take All −48 States and DC Congressional District Divide −Maine −Nebraska Proportional

Number of Electors Needed 270 / 538 If not…goes to the House of Representatives VP goes to the Senate

Historical Examples Election of – Jefferson 73 – Burr Jefferson wins on 36 th ballot

Historical Examples Election of – Jackson (152,933) 84 – J.Q. Adams (115,696) 41 – William Crawford (46,979) 37 – Henry Clay (47,136)

Meeting Time 1 st Monday after 2 nd Wednesday in December in Home State. 1 st Vote for President 2 nd Vote for Vice President −12 th Amendment Can only vote for 1 person from their state.

Counting the Votes January 6 of the year following the election. House and Senate meet in the House. President of the Senate Presides Certify Votes and Ballots

Majority of Electoral Vote Not Received House of Representatives Top 3 vote getters in Electoral College Each state gets 1 Vote Majority wins

Nominee won Popular Votes and Loses Presidency 1876 Election 250,000 more popular votes Loses to Rutherford B Hayes by 1 electoral vote 1888 Election 90,000 votes over Benjamin Harrison 233/ Election 543,895 votes over George Bush 271/266

Flaw of the Electoral College Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote

What If…… Winner of the popular election dies before the electoral college meets?