The Electoral College

Warm Up! Examine this political cartoon: What do you believe it is saying about the Electoral College? How is it saying this?

Key Points! Every four years the people of the United States elect a president, but not directly. According to the Constitution, the presidency is awarded to the candidate with the most electoral votes, not the most popular votes.

The Electoral College and Federalism The electoral college also reflects the federal nature of the Constitution because it ensures that the states have a role in selecting the president.

The Electoral College in Five Easy Steps In November of a presidential election year, each state holds an election in which all eligible citizens may vote. Citizens vote for a “ticket” which includes a candidate for president and a candidate for vice president.

The Electoral College in Five Easy Steps The outcome of the popular vote in each state determines the electors who make the actual choice of president and vice president. Each state has as many electors as it has senators and members of the House of Representatives, for a total of 538. (The District of Columbia gets three electors even though it has no representation in Congress.)

The Electoral College in Five Easy Steps In December, the electors meet in their state capitols to cast their ballots for president and vice president. States may or may not require their electors to vote with the popular majority, and they may or may not give all of their electors to the winner of the statewide popular vote.

The Electoral College in Five Easy Steps These ballots are opened, counted, and certified by a joint session of Congress in January. In order to win the Presidency, the candidate needs an absolute majority of votes. This is calculated as 50% + One.

The Electoral College in Five Easy Steps If no candidate wins an absolute majority of the electoral votes or if the top two candidates are tied, the House selects a president from among the leading five candidates. Each state's delegation has a single vote. The Senate selects a vice president by the same process. (This hasn't happened since 1876, but it almost happened in 2000.)

Summary! The “ticket” with the most popular votes is not guaranteed the presidency. Candidates are not competing for the nation as a whole, but for individual states and their electoral votes.

How Many Electoral Votes Does Kentucky Have?

What’s the Magic Number? How many total electoral votes are available? Calculate the absolute majority. That number is?