Presidential Elections Chapter 8 Section 2 Notes

Original System Only Electoral Vote: no popular vote Electors met/cast votes 2nd place = VP Ties: each state gets 1 vote in House of Reps 1800 Election (Jefferson/Burr) = System change

Partner Discussion Based on what you know, explain the differences between the original presidential election process and the process we have today

Today Parties select candidate Election Day: Tues after 1st Mon in Nov Separate ballots for Prez and VP Voting for state electors

Politics Today

Electors 538 Congress Seats District of Columbia Electors Electors of state party winner cast vote (party representative) Officially vote in Dec Only 9 have broken custom

California Electoral Votes Comparison September, 1850 (Compromise of 1850) Gained votes each census except 1920 (No Reapportionment Act) 2010 Comparison 1972- 45 electoral votes, passes NY for #1 2000- 55, more than 10% of total

California Voting Trends Reliably Democratic today 1952-1988 Republican (except ‘64) ‘08/’12: Obama wins by about 60%-37%

Battleground State Voters fairly evenly split between Dem & Rep Potential shift in each election (swing to either side) AKA “Swing States” or “Purple States” Vitally important to election Losing swing states likely means lost election Candidates spend high number of resources Examples Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida Non-example: Alaska (Voted Dem once in 56 years) Battleground State

2016 Presidential Electoral Map (Projected) http://www.270towin.com/maps/2016- election-battleground-states

Voting Process The Voting Process Summarized

Problems with Electoral Process Winner take all Winner of state wins all of votes (except Maine & Nebraska) Possible to lose popular vote, but win election 3rd Party Candidates Ties: Election by House 1 vote per state; 26 votes needed All states equal Reps can’t decide: state loses vote

Presidents Who Lost Popular Vote Year President Electoral Vote Popular Vote Opponent 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes 185 4,034,311 Samuel J. Tiden 184 4,288,546 1888 Benjamin Harrison 233 5,443,892 Grover Cleveland 168 5,534,488 2000 George W. Bush 271 50,456,002 Albert Gore 266 50,999,897 2016 Donald Trump 306 62,979,636 Hilary Clinton 232 65,844,610

Reform Ideas District-based electors Percentage-based electors: 2 electors per state, plus 1 for each district Candidate winner of each district get vote Winner of most districts in state wins 2 extra elector’s votes Percentage-based electors: Population vote % = state elector % Eliminate elector voting shifts Enlarge role of 3rd party candidates: can force House vote Direct popular election No electoral vote Problems: Eliminate state role Candidates focus on large-populations

Partner Discussion Based on the proposed processes for electing the President in the US, which process do you feel is the best way? Explain you reasoning.

2004 Bush: 286 Kerry: 251

2008 McCain: 173 Obama: 365

2012 Romney: 206 Obama: 332