How the Electoral College Works

Why was it Created?

• Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote.

• Wanted to establish a role for the states in the election process = federalism

• Candidate with an overwhelming majority of votes in one part of the country couldn’t be elected by a slim overall popular majority

United States Constitution• The United States

Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected.

Article II Section: Electoral College

– 538 people called electors responsible for electing the Pres and VP

– # of members in House of Reps (435) + # of members in Senate (100) + 3 for Washington D.C (23rd Amendment) = 538

The Number of Electoral College Votes Each State has is

Determined by:

Number of Representatives

+ Number of Senators

=Total Number of Electoral

College VotesChanges with

Census…Each

State has Two

Senators

Each State has at Least One

Representative

Determined by Population at time of

Census

Ohio 2012 Presidential Election

Number of Representatives

+ Number of Senators

=Total Number of Electoral

College Votes

16 2 18

2010 Census Data

Steps in the Electoral College Process

Step 1: Popular Vote

• On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President

• What we’re actually choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like

• These electors are then supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state

Step 2: Winner Take All• Winner takes all

– Candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state

• 48 States– Nebraska and Maine have

proportional system - each candidate gets some votes

• Majority rules– Candidate who wins the majority of

votes wins the election• Need 270 Votes to win

Step 3: Voting• Meeting of Electors -

Electors meet in each State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December).

Step 4: Counting Ballots

• Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in DC

• The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6 before a joint session of Congress

• If there is a tie, the President will be decided by the House of Representatives

Flaws of the Electoral College

# 1 - Person who doesn’t win popular vote can be elected President

– 4 Elections1. Jackson (41.3%) v. J.Q.

Adams (30.9%)– J.Q. Adams winner

2. Hayes (4.0M) to Tilden (4.2M)– Hayes winner

3. Cleveland (5.5M) to B. Harrison (5.4)– Harrison winner

4. Gore v. Bush (2000)

2000 Presidential Election

435 Representatives

100 Senators

3 Electoral Votes for Washington D.C.+ ______________

538 Electoral College Votes

Majority = 270 Electoral College Votes

Candidate Electoral Votes Popular Vote

George W. Bush 271 50,456,002

Al Gore 266 50,999,897

#2: Electors Don’t Have to Do What We Tell Them To

• Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee

– 1796– 1820– 1948– 1956– 1960– 1968– 1972– 1976– 1988– 2000– 2004 an elector from MN voted for John Edwards (twice, Pres

& VP)