1. The Electoral College Process
June 3, 2019
American Government
The Electoral College Process

2. WARM UP HSA Questions of the Day
1. The popular vote is an example of what kind of democracy?
The popular vote =
Direct Democracy.

3. WARM UP HSA Questions of the Day
2. The electoral vote is an example of what kind of democracy?
The electoral vote = Representative Democracy.

5. How American Elections Work
Three types of elections:
Select party nominees (primary elections)
Select officeholders (general elections)
Select options on specific policies

6. How American Elections Work
Referendum: voters approve proposed laws or to add state constitutional amendments.
Initiative petition: process permitted in some states, voters can get policy on the ballot through petition

7. The Electoral College
A system of INDIRECT ELECTION where the President and Vice President are chosen
Written in to the US Constitution by the Framers to protect smaller states

8. November 9, 2016 – Electoral College

9. The Electoral College
The amount of “electors” each state has equals the total numbers of members in Congress (House + Senate)
Example: Maryland has 2 Senators and 8 Representatives (House) – How many electors do we have?
MD has 10 electoral votes

10. Maryland Electoral Votes 8 Congressional Districts =
8 US House of Rep. Members
8 US House Members +
2 State Senators =
10 Electors

12. The Electoral College There are 538 electoral votes across the country
The Candidate MUST win a majority of 270 votes to be President
If a majority is not reached the election goes to the House of Representatives

13. November 9, 2016 – Electoral College

14. The Electoral College
Each state has as many votes as it does House of Representatives members and Senators.
Winner of the state’s popular vote typically gets all the Electoral College votes for that state.

15. The Electoral College
Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January
If no candidate gets a majority (270 electoral votes), the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state casting one vote.

16. 2012 Electoral College Results

17. 2016 Electoral College Results

18. The Electoral College
Technically an Elector can vote for whomever they want, but in 48 states Electors are pledged to one ticket.
Candidates that win the popular vote get all of that state’s electors.
Nebraska and Maine
allow for split votes,
but this is rare.

19. Maryland Election Results – By County
Hillary Clinton
60.30%
1,677,928
Donald Trump
33.90%
943,169
Gary Johnson
2.87%
71,107
Jill Stein
1.29%
31,839

20. Electoral Congress Usually, the popular vote matches electoral count
Only 5 have lost the Presidency while winning the popular vote:
Andrew Jackson (1824)
Samuel Tilden (1876)
Grover Cleveland (1888)
Al Gore (2000)
Hillary Clinton (2016)

21. Electoral College Reason for:
Keeps the ideals of Federalism and gives more power to smaller states
Criticism:
Too often the election relies on two or three “swing-states”
Confusing, antiquated, not very democratic