It’s all in Art 2 Sec 3 EC Design in 1787 –# Electors = # of Reps and Senators –People State Legs Electors President Indirect Voting
We don’t have one National Election to determine the Presidency where 1 person = 1 vote! We have 48 “Winner Take All” State Elections where some states/voters matter more than others do!
Plurality system (not majority) just more than any other candidate) wins all of a state’s electoral college votes –Duverger’s law = plurality system leads to 2 party system Today, there are 538 Votes –Need majority –270 needed to win Electoral College #’s have changed over time as we’ve added states –Every 10 yrs, the # of votes for each state can possibly change…why?
538 How do you get the #?
Pay attention to the electoral votes for Florida and NY
No –There have been elections where a candidate wins the Popular Vote but not the Electoral vote
– Andrew Jackson gets plurality of the Popular Vote and Electoral College, but loses the presidency to John Quincy Adams…why? –If no MAJORITY, another vote taken by the House of Reps!! Quincy Adams then beat Jackson – Samuel Tilden won the popular vote, but his opponent, Rutherford B. Hayes won the Electoral College President Grover Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College vote to Benjamin Harrison.
What if no candidate receives majority of electoral votes? HOR decides!!! –By majority vote of state delegates
Theoretically, we vote for our Electors –Electors then pick the President In every election, electors SHOULD pick what their people want –Today they do The people’s individual votes get counted in the Popular Vote…
Campaign Tactics Use to Win Key States concentration of money in those states more tv ads and use of media bigger campaign organizations more travel to/make more campaign appearances in key states focus on issues that swing voters in that state care about selection of a running mate from one of the key states
Each $ = $1 million spent in the last 4 weeks of campaigning Each = 1 visit by the candidate in the last 4 weeks of campaigning Youtube video
Winner Take All System How does winner take all system affect how pres candidates run campaigns? –Resource allocation or focus is on swing states and large states where candidates spend their time or money and buy media –May focus on particular issues what would swing a bloc of voters in a state –Choice of VP (regional balance) How does system hinder third party candidates? –TP candidate may get a lot of popular vote but no electoral college vote unless they can carry a state –Difficulty getting electoral votes hampers ability to raise funds and gain other campaign resources
The reasons that existed back in the 1780s –Compromise between big and small states –Protection against direct election by uniformed citizens –Founders did not trust the people, Congress or state legislatures to solely elect president –Reinforced federalism & gave states a role in presidential selection
Why hasn’t it been abolished ? History/tradition Would require constitutional amendment No clear consensus on an alternative Collectively benefits small states Competitive states like it Favors 2 party system
The Electoral College has been used for over 200 years The system has flaws –4 of the 57 Elections have been screwed up Options for this country –Keep the EC –Abolish the EC –Modify the EC How do you make a change?