1. How the Electoral College Works

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Ohio 2012 Presidential Election
2010 Census Data
Number of Representatives
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Senators + = 16 2 18

6. Steps in the Electoral College Process

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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).

10. 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

11. Flaws of the Electoral College

12. # 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)

13. 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 ,456,002
Al Gore ,999,897

14. #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)