1. Electing A President

2. The Original System Article II Section 1 – Electoral College
Each state would choose electors according to a method set up by state legislature

3. The Original System
Electors: members from a party that elect the President and V.P
Electoral votes : votes for the President and V.P.
Votes would be counted in a joint congressional session

4. Presidential Election Flow chart

5. Electoral Process Today
Parties choose nominees for President and V.P. at Conventions held in late summer – based on Primaries and Caucus's
Primaries:
Open: all voters may participate even if they don’t belong to the party, but they can only vote in one party’s primary
Closed: only party members can vote in the primary
Only need majority vote
Caucus:
Neighborhood – County – Congressional district - State
Meetings to select party candidates
Used by 19 states

6. Party Conventions
Formerly, used to be sole decision maker for nomination of candidate
Political reform changed its role
Today, parties choose one of the nominees who have been preselected (primaries/caucuses)
No longer a decision maker for the party’s candidate
Delegate selection now determines candidate nomination
NOTE: Still instrumental in developing party platforms and future direction

7. Delegate Selection Chosen by primary or caucus
Dems: All delegates come to the convention already committed to a candidate (based on proportion of votes)
Dems:Superdelegates now play a major role
Delegate slot to the Dem. Party Conventions that is reserved for an elected official
Who are they? What is their Purpose?
Reps: Not bound to state primary results
No superdelegates

8. Electoral College System Today
Voters cast ballots on the Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
Not voting for president, but for electors
Electors cast votes in December
Electoral College made up of 538 – Number of House and Senate + 3 for D.C.

9. NUMBER OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES PER STATE

10. Electoral College System (cont.)
Winner-take all system
California has 55 electoral votes: If 40 of them are Republican votes all 55 would be Republican
Maine and Nebraska are the exception – not winner-takes-all
Candidate must win at least 270 of 538 votes

11. Electoral College Issues
Winner-take-all: argue that those who vote for the losing candidate are at a disadvantage
Makes it possible for one who receives the popular vote to lose the electoral vote
Third Party Candidates: Could take electoral votes away from either major-party candidate