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Electoral College

Electoral College. The President is elected by 50 separate state elections…why? It is stated in the US Constitution. Current Electoral College Map. http://www.270towin.com/. Historical Background.

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Electoral College

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  1. Electoral College The President is elected by 50 separate state elections…why? It is stated in the US Constitution

  2. Current Electoral College Map http://www.270towin.com/

  3. Historical Background • The framers of the Constitution disagreed on how to elect a president—congressional selection or direct popular election. • The electoral college was a compromise, combining features of both approaches.

  4. How elected • How we elect our presidents. • States get an elector for each house seat plus the 2 senate seats for that state. Thus, Ohio has 18 house seats (based on population) and two Senate seats, giving them 20 electoral votes. • 435 plus 100 plus 3 for D.C. = 538 • All states are winner take all except Maine and Nebraska, where 2 are chosen statewide and the others by Congressional districts.

  5. Extension of federalism The electoral college also reflects the federal nature of the Constitution because it ensures that the states have a role in selecting the president.

  6. Who are the electors? • Individuals selected in each state to officially cast that state’s electoral votes. • Texas selects 34 electors to cast the state’s 34 electoral votes. • Framers anticipated that electors would be state leaders who would exercise good judgment. • Today, party leaders select competing slates of electors who are typically long-time party activists. • Electors almost always vote for their party’s candidates.

  7. Election of President in January? In December, the electors gather in their respective state capitols to cast ballots for president and vice president. In January, Congress convenes, opens the ballots received from each state, and announces the official outcome.

  8. Does the popular vote match everytime? No • Popular vote winner has failed to win the presidency four times. • 1824 John Quincy Adams was elected President by the House of Representatives due to an electoral college tie. • 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes last the popular vote but won the electoral college over Sam Tilden. • 1888: President Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the electoral college to Benjamin Harrison. • 2000: Gore won popular vote, but lost electoral college to Bush.

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