Electoral College What is the path to the White House?What is the path to the White House?

Electoral College basics Indirect Election: States elect the president Indirect Election: States elect the president 538 Electoral Votes allotted throughout country, roughly based on state’s population. 538 Electoral Votes allotted throughout country, roughly based on state’s population. Winner-take-all Winner-take-all Popular vote Popular vote Electoral vote Electoral vote

We elect our president ____________. This means that we do not actually vote on the president, but rather for the party. Then our state sends electors to cast votes on behalf of that party. We elect our president ____________. This means that we do not actually vote on the president, but rather for the party. Then our state sends electors to cast votes on behalf of that party. There are total of 538 ______________. A candidate needs to get 270 to win. There are total of 538 ______________. A candidate needs to get 270 to win. There are _____ presidential elections, with one in each state and one for DC (thanks to the 23 rd Amendment). There are _____ presidential elections, with one in each state and one for DC (thanks to the 23 rd Amendment). In most states, the race is __________________. This means that the state’s ____________ vote is used to determine which candidate will receive all of the state’s electoral votes. In most states, the race is __________________. This means that the state’s ____________ vote is used to determine which candidate will receive all of the state’s electoral votes. 51Winner-Take-All popularindirectlyelectoral votes

Map Activity 1.Examine map1.Examine map 2.Find 5 states with the most electoral votes, box those state letters and their numbers. 3.Find 5 states with the fewest electoral votes, circle those state letters and their numbers 4.Find the lowest number of possible states that would be necessary to win a presidential election 5.Leave space to staple this in (when the stapler gets to you)5.Leave space to staple this in (when the stapler gets to you)

Electoral College- according to 3 rd graders Electoral Dysfunction (pause after classroom simulation) Electoral Dysfunction (pause after classroom simulation) Electoral Dysfunction Electoral Dysfunction Questions: Questions: 1.How can national popular vote and electoral college vote have different results? 2.Why did Constitutional framers set up this indirect system?2.Why did Constitutional framers set up this indirect system? 3.How is representation skewed?3.How is representation skewed? 4.How does this system favor a two-party system?4.How does this system favor a two-party system?

Electoral College - Campaigning Candidates must win states Candidates must win states Doesn’t matter if they win 51% or 92% of the states popular vote, they get all electoral votes Doesn’t matter if they win 51% or 92% of the states popular vote, they get all electoral votes Ignore safe states, focus on swing states. Ignore safe states, focus on swing states. On your map identify 2 “safe” states On your map identify 2 “safe” states On your map identify 2 “swing” states On your map identify 2 “swing” states How does it feel to be a voter in Texas? How does it feel to be a voter in Texas?

Because every state gets at least 3 electoral votes, __________ states are actually overrepresented and ___________ are under represented. Because every state gets at least 3 electoral votes, __________ states are actually overrepresented and ___________ are under represented. Politicians know that the path to the White House requires winning 270 electoral votes, so the presidential candidates focus on winning ____________ states, often ignoring the ___________ states where they poll well Politicians know that the path to the White House requires winning 270 electoral votes, so the presidential candidates focus on winning ____________ states, often ignoring the ___________ states where they poll well safesmall largeswing

Electoral College Formalities In each state, each party selects electors to be ready to go if their party wins Vote for party on election day (early Tuesday in November) Popular vote is tallied. One slate of electors goes home and the other prepares for college!!! Middle of December the Electors cast their votes January the votes are counted and winner declared Actualities Vote for candidate on election day (early Tuesday in November) Polling places report numbers and media can report future president by the next morning (usually) CGP Grey's electoral college CGP Grey's electoral college

Electoral College – In Nebraska and Maine District Method District Method In these 2 states, the state is drawn into districts so each district gets one electoral vote. In these 2 states, the state is drawn into districts so each district gets one electoral vote. So, not winner take all So, not winner take all Write D.M. on these two states on your map Write D.M. on these two states on your map What may be a problem with this system? What may be a problem with this system? Gerrymandering. This system requires lines be drawn. So who draws them??? Gerrymandering. This system requires lines be drawn. So who draws them???

Electoral College - Criticisms Over-represents less populous states Over-represents less populous states Results may not reflect national popular vote Results may not reflect national popular vote Encourages candidates to focus on states, not people Encourages candidates to focus on states, not people Too complicated Too complicated

Electoral College – possible changes District Method: keep EC, but draw states into districts so votes can be broken up (not winner-take-all) District Method: keep EC, but draw states into districts so votes can be broken up (not winner-take-all) Nebraska and Maine already do this Nebraska and Maine already do this Proportional plan: keep electoral college, but allot electoral votes in proportion to popular vote of state (not winner-take-all) Proportional plan: keep electoral college, but allot electoral votes in proportion to popular vote of state (not winner-take-all) Requires state to change its State Constitution Requires state to change its State Constitution What about decimals? What about decimals? National Popular Plan: straight national vote. National Popular Plan: straight national vote. Requires US Constitutional Amendment Requires US Constitutional Amendment Amendment Process requires 38 states to ratify. Why would this be difficult to achieve? Amendment Process requires 38 states to ratify. Why would this be difficult to achieve?

Electoral College – A tie? Possible tie: Possible tie: President is decided in the House of Representatives President is decided in the House of Representatives Each state gets one vote Each state gets one vote Need 26 votes Need 26 votes Representatives from each state must agree on their one vote Representatives from each state must agree on their one vote Vice President is decided in the Senate Vice President is decided in the Senate Each Senator gets one vote Each Senator gets one vote Need 51 votes Need 51 votes VP casts tie breaking vote! VP casts tie breaking vote!

Check your knowledge/notes Number 1-6Number 1-6 Use word bank at topUse word bank at top

1.Nebraska and Maine use the ______method to assign their electoral votes in the EC? 2.48 of the 50 states assign their electoral votes according to __.2.48 of the 50 states assign their electoral votes according to __. 3.The biggest concern with the District Plan is that district lines could be _____. 4.A national popular vote for president is unlikely because it requires a _____. 5.The _____ decides the Vice President in cases of a tie5.The _____ decides the Vice President in cases of a tie 6.The _____ decides the President in cases of a tie.6.The _____ decides the President in cases of a tie. House of RepresentativesConstitutional amendmentWinner-Take-All SenateDistrictgerrymandered

Write summary and then return journals CGP Grey Trouble with Electoral College CGP Grey Trouble with Electoral College CGP Grey Trouble with Electoral College CGP Grey Trouble with Electoral College