1. The Electoral College

2. Why Does It Exist?
Founders wanted to protect interests of small states
Founders felt it was necessary to have educated & literate voters, direct popular vote= reckless*

3. Solution: The Electoral College
Compromise created by Alexander Hamilton
Some people wanted Congress to control the Presidency
Others supported a popular vote by citizens
Hamilton’s solution indirect voting by the people for the President*

4. How It Works…
When people vote, they are actually voting for a slate (group) of electors NOT candidates
Each party has its own slate of electors
Electors pledge support to candidates of their party
The candidate with the most popular votes in a State, wins all of that State’s electoral votes winner-take-all system*
(48 states practice this: Maine & Nebraska divide their electoral votes based on winners of congressional districts)

5. Selecting a Winner
Electors meet in state capitals in Dec. & cast votes
Congress counts the electoral vote on Jan. 6th & declares a winner
The elected President is sworn in on Jan. 20th*

6. In the Case of an Unclear Winner…
If no candidate receives the majority of all the electoral votes—then the House of Representatives selects the President
Each state then receives 1 vote
(small states=large states)*
This happened in 1801 between Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr (the House voted 36 times to break the electoral college tie)

7. Electoral College By the #’s…
538 Total
435 Representatives Senators + 3 (D.C.)
Majority= 270+ of the total 538
Must earn 270+ (Magic #) to win Presidency*

8. Determining Electoral Votes
How many electoral votes does each state receive?
Each state & the District of Columbia have electoral votes (based on population)
Calculating Electoral Votes…
A state’s electoral votes= # of Representatives in the House + # of Senators
Ohio= 20 electoral votes (18 reps + 2 sens.)
Washington, D.C. has 3 electoral votes*

10. How Are Electors Selected?
No exact process across the board (all states)
2 Main Ways Exist…
#1. The elector is nominated by his or her state party committee
#2. The elector "campaigns" for a spot and the decision is made during a vote held at the state's party convention*
#1 Method: (perhaps to reward many years of service to the party).

11. Elector Qualifications
There are no real qualifications to be an elector
Electors can be from any political party
Electors are usually politically active & are sometimes connected to candidates
Electors only have 1 responsibility: to select the President & Vice President*

12. Elector Qualifications Con’t.
He or she cannot be a Representative or Senator
He or she cannot be a high-ranking U.S. official in a position of "trust or profit"
He or she cannot be someone who has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S.*
There are some “can’t be” restrictions…

13. Problems With the System
The electoral college system is widely criticized/debated
3 Main Problems Exist…*

14. Problem #1
The winner of the popular vote may not become President—unfair
A candidate could win narrowly in big states & lose many small states yet still win the electoral majority needed to win the Presidency
This situation has occurred 4 times in U.S. history & almost in several other elections
Largest disparity occurred in 2000 election*
1824: John Q. Adams
1876: Rutherford B. Hayes
1888: Benjamin Harrison
2000: George W. Bush
George W. Bush lost popular vote by about 540,000 votes, but won the Presidency by a margin of 4 electoral votes (271 total)

15. Problem #2
Nothing requires a State’s presidential electors to vote for the candidate who wins that State’s popular vote—no law/rule exists
Unlikely, yet possible problem*
Since each party chooses its own electors, it is highly unlikely that they would vote for another candidate

16. Problem #3
A strong third party candidate could put an election to the House of Representatives
Spoiler role*

17. Other Minor Problems… Votes for losing candidate don’t count
Certain states are ignored by candidates because of their small impact, while other states are focused on more
Some large states are ignored because they are predominately considered to favor either the Democratic or Republican parties*
California & Texas are seen as lost causes

18. Proposals For Reform
There have been more than 700 attempts to change the Electoral College system
Difficult to change—requires Constitutional Amendment
There are 4 main proposals regarding changing the electoral college system*

19. Direct Popular Election
The voters directly elect the President
Get rid of the system all together!
Proposed by Jimmy Carter in ’77
Big states would have more control than less-populated states—would receive more attention
Forever changes the federal system*

20. The District Plan
Electors would represent congressional districts & support the popular vote winner in their district
2 votes/state + 1 vote/district
Eliminates winner-take-all system
Still possibility to lose popular vote & win election*

21. The Proportional Plan
Each candidate would receive the same share of the State’s electoral vote as he/she received from the popular vote
Win 60% popular vote, receive 60% of electoral votes
Eliminates winner-take-all system
Eliminates chance of electors voting for someone they aren’t pledged to support
Enlarges chance of a minor party messing up an election
Complicates elections
Creates greater chance of sending to the House of Representatives*

22. National Bonus Plan
Adds to the current electoral system plan by adding bonus electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote
The plan is not well-known or understood
Has little public support*

23. Close