The Electoral College

Framers’ Original Plan (13.3)

Original Intent Framers devoted more time to the method of choosing the P than any other issue Many felt Congress should choose the P Few felt P should be chosen by popular vote Framers did not trust the people to make an informed decision Too many people & too big of an area

Original Plan Electors = state # R & S Electors chosen by state legislatures Electoral votes opened/counted in joint session of Congress Candidate w/largest # of votes  President Candidate w/second largest # of votes  VP

Election of 1800 Both Federalists & Democratic-Republicans nominated P/VP First electoral vote (needed min. 138): Jefferson: 73 Burr: 73 Adams: 65 Pinckney: 64 Jay: 1 36 more congressional votes before Jefferson won

The Electoral College Today (13.5)

Electoral College Today Voters vote for presidential electors, NOT the president Electors today are basically rubber stamps – they’re supposed vote according to what the state votes

Electoral College Today Electors chosen at the same time every presidential election yr. Tuesday after the first Monday of November 48/50 states: winner-take-all voting All state electoral votes go to candidate w/largest popular vote Electors meet in state capitols at the same time to cast ballots Monday after the second Wednesday of December

Electoral College Today Votes opened in joint session of Congress January 6th after the election If no candidate reaches 270/538 minimum, H of R will vote for P Happened in 1800 & 1824 By Jan. 20th, if P is not chosen, VP will act as P until choice is made

Electoral College – Flaws Popular vote winner doesn’t always win electoral college 15 Presidents have won not winning the popular vote Electors are not required to vote based on final popular vote

Plans to replace the Electoral College District Plan Proportional Plan Each state has 2 electors Electors vote according to popular vote in the district Could lead to even more gerrymandering of districts Candidate receives proportional # of electoral votes based on his finish in the state 2 candidates win 40% of vote; run-off election decides president Could force creation of more political parties

Plans to replace the Electoral College Direct Popular Election Plan National Bonus Plan People’s votes directly elect the president Currently most popular plan Requires change in Constitution Requires a large % of eligible voters to actually vote Same system kept in place Block of 102 votes added to winner of popular vote If majority (321) is still not reached, run-off election is used