1. 5-2: Presidential Campaigns and Elections

2. Electoral College Background Allocation of Electoral Votes
No direct election
Safeguard against factions
Allocation of Electoral Votes
Total number of Congressmen from the state
Minimum of 3
Electoral votes change with reapportionment

3. Electoral College Winner-Take-All System District Method
Candidates emphasize large states, swing states, competitive states
Severely restricts 3rd party candidates
District Method
Nebraska and Maine only

4. Percentage of Population Share of Electoral Votes
Electoral College
Persistence
Constitutional amendment needed to abolish it
Benefits small states
Can benefit minorities located in key states
It works
No consensus on how to replace it
State
Percentage of Population
Share of Electoral Votes
Wyoming
0.1%
0.6%
Virginia
2.6%
2.4%
California
11.9%
10.2%