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The Electoral College

Learn about the Electoral College, its role in elections, and the controversies surrounding it. Discover the pros and cons and explore alternative options.

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The Electoral College

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  1. The Electoral College An activity to explain the monster! Chapter 14, Theme A

  2. Pop Quiz: Electoral College 101 • How many electoral votes does each state receive? • What is the total number of electoral votes? • How many votes does it take to win? • How do nearly all states award their votes? • What happens if no presidential candidate gets enough votes? • How many times has that happened?

  3. Rationale of Electoral College • Why not have the popular vote determine? • Why not have the Senate determine? • Why is the Electoral College probably here to stay? • What makes the Electoral College so controversial?

  4. 2000

  5. 2004 electoral results Alaska Hawaii

  6. 2008 electoral results

  7. The 2012 Electoral Map

  8. 2012 Electoral College by County

  9. How did the reapportionment of the seats in the HOR affect the 2012 Presidential elections? Based on the previous charts, do these new “numbers” help the Republicans or the Democrats more? Explain your position. The 2012 Election

  10. Class Election • Nominate 2 candidates • Vote for the candidates • Divide into states • Each state casts vote • Count popular votes • Count electoral votes • Discuss results

  11. Electoral Challenges • Can you become President without winning CA, TX, NY & FL? Prove it! • 538-151=387 • Choose the most efficient way to win 270 with the fewest states • CA, TX, FL, NY, PA, IL, OH, GA, MI, NC, NJ • Prove which part of the country has the most votes: East or West of the Mississippi River • East has 309

  12. Bush v. Gore (2000) • Discuss the case. • Debate questions. • Does it matter today? Why or why not?

  13. Navigating the Debate…

  14. Pros: Why Keep the Electoral College?

  15. Arguments for the Electoral College • The EC, in recognizing a role for states in the selection of the president,  reminds us of their importance in our federal system. • The EC encourages more campaigning by candidates, as they spend time in big cities, smaller cities, & in battleground states. It diversifies the platform the candidates and parties make. • In close, contested elections, recounts will usually be confined to a state or two, rather than an across-the-country recount that might be required if we had direct election of the president. • With its typical winner-take-all allocation of votes, it often turns a small percentage margin of victory into one that appears much larger, thus making the victory seem more conclusive and adding to the winner's perceived legitimacy. 5. The United States was never intended to be a direct democracy, but a republic. We elect representatives at all levels of government. 6.The EC system, especially in a close election, is not subject to the mischief that might be caused by voter fraud and tampered elections.

  16. Cons: Should the US Abolish the Electoral College?

  17. Arguments Against the Electoral College 1.  When the winner of the EC is not the candidate who received the most votes of the people, the new president faces questions about legitimacy. 2.  Most Americans believe that the person who receives the most votes should become president.  Direct election is seen as more consistent with democratic principles than is the EC system. 3.  The EC gives disproportionate weight to the votes of citizens of small states. For example, a vote by a resident of Wyoming counts about four times more--electorally--than a vote by a California resident. 4.  If presidents were elected by direct popular vote, they would wage a campaign and advertise all across the nation, rather than (as they do in the EC system) concentrating almost all of their time and effort in a handful of battleground states. The EC system encourages candidates to pander to interests of voters in a closely contested states. 5.  The EC system, especially in a close election, is subject to the mischief that might be caused by disloyal--or even bribed--electors. 6. In a contested election, decisions are made by the Supreme Court whose members are not accountable to the voters.

  18. Other Options? • Follow the model of Nebraska & Maine. Divide the electoral votes by district instead of winner-take-all. • Adopt the "National Popular Vote Bill" that binds the state to casting its electoral votes for the presidential candidate receiving the greatest popular vote, regardless of which candidate carried its own state vote, provided that there is a clear winner. (Maryland, Virginia & others) • Pass legislation that binds electors to vote for the state’s winner. (NC has this law with 25 others states.)

  19. Assignment: Due Tomorrow! • Read 370-372, 378-386 & lesson 23 in WTP (pp. 162-167). Take notes on formal & informal powers, checks on powers, & specific examples. • Complete chart on roles of Pres. • Presidential Roles Projects due 3/10/16.

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