SOL 5f The Electoral College

Presidential Elections  When voters go to the polls on election day in November to vote for a presidential candidate, they are actually voting for a slate of electors who are pledged to vote for one of the candidates.

Electoral College Process  The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.

Electoral College Process  A slate of electors for each state is chosen by popular vote.

Electoral College process  The electors meet to vote for president and vice president. Electors cast the official vote for president and vice president in December.

Electoral College Process  The number of electors in each state is based on the size of the state’s Congressional representation, which is based on the state’s population.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE  Each state has the same number of electors as it does members of Congress. # of Senators + # of Representatives = __________________ # of electoral votes in each state

ELECTORAL COLLEGE  538 Total Electoral Votes  270 Electoral votes needed to win the election

What if… no candidate receives 270 votes? A TIE!!! House of Representatives selects the President Senate selects the Vice President

Electoral College process  Most states have a winner- take-all system.

Winner-Take-All System   The candidate with most votes in a state wins all of the electoral votes for that state.

 The winner-take-all system leads to the targeting of densely populated states for campaigning.

 However candidates must pay attention to less populated states whose electoral votes may make the difference in tight elections.

Electoral College Process  The requirement for a majority vote to win in the Electoral College favors a two-party system.

Is it possible to lose the popular vote and still win the election? YES!

ELECTORAL COLLEGE What made the framers of the Constitution create this system for the election of the President and Vice-President? What made the framers of the Constitution create this system for the election of the President and Vice-President? WHY Why do we need electors?

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Representation Question for the framers: How to balance power between the large and small states?  Result: Electoral votes for each state are determined by population

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Fear Issue for the framers: People are not educated enough to make a good decision.  Result: Electors who were educated about the process would make the official vote.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Knowledge Issue for the Issue for the framers: framers: Voters do not know about candidates from other states. Voters do not know about candidates from other states.  Result: Using electors would keep people from only voting for candidates from their state.

QUIZ

 Describe the Electoral College process.  A slate of electors for each state is chosen by popular vote.  Most states have a winner-take-all system.  The electors meet to vote for president and vice president.

 The winner-take-all system leads to the targeting of what kinds of states?  Densely populated

 Candidates must pay attention to ______________________ states whose electoral votes may make the difference in tight elections.  Less populated

 What is the number of electors of each state is based on?  Congressional representation

 The requirement for a majority vote to win in the Electoral College favors a _______________ system.  Two - party