How the Electoral College Works Video:How the Electoral College Works

Why was it Created? Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote. Wanted to establish a role for the states in the election process = federalism Candidate with an overwhelming majority of votes in one part of the country couldn’t be elected by a slim overall popular majority

United States Constitution The United States Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected. Article II Section: Electoral College 538 people called electors responsible for electing the Pres and VP # of members in House of Reps (435) + # of members in Senate (100) + 3 for Washington D.C (23rd Amendment) = 538

The Number of Electoral College Votes Each State has is Determined by: Total Number of Electoral College Votes Number of Representatives Number of Senators + = Changes with Census… Each State has Two Senators Each State has at Least One Representative Determined by Population at time of Census

To Be an Elector Electors will be appointed by state legislature Electors must be loyal party members

To be an Elector Any eligible voter can be an elector Electors may not hold any other office Electors do not get paid, they have other jobs Electors names appear on the ballot under the candidate they will vote for.

What Role does the Census play? Every ten years the U.S. Census is taken to determine how many representatives each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. This number helps to determine the number of electors for each state.

Steps in the Electoral College Process

Election Day will be on November 8. Step One: Election Day An act of Congress sets the day for presidential and congressional elections as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. November 2016 Election Day will be on November 8.

Step 1: Popular Vote On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President What choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like. These electors are then supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state

Step 2: Electoral Vote The Electoral Vote is determine by the number of Senators + House of Representatives for each state & 3 for Washington D.C. For example: Georgia has a total of 16 Electoral votes – 2 for members of Senate and 14 for members of House of Representatives. California has 55 Electoral Votes.

Step 3: Winner Takes All Rule Candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state (this is in 48 states). Nebraska and Maine have proportional system - each candidate gets some votes What are your thoughts…should the winner take all or the vote be split?

Step 4 Majority rules The Candidate who wins 270 Electoral Votes wins the election.

Step 5: Voting by Electors Electors meet in each State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December). It takes 270 votes out of 538 to win the presidency.

When do the electors meet? December 2016 The electors will meet on December 19.

Step 6: Counting Ballots Electoral votes are sent to the president of the Senate in DC (VP) The president of the Senate (VP) counts the votes on January 6 before a joint session of Congress If there is a tie, the President will be decided by the House of Representatives

When are electoral votes counted? The President of the Senate (current Vice President) counts the electoral votes on January 6, unless it falls on a Sunday. January 2017 The electoral votes will be counted on January 6.

Step 7: When does the president take office? The new president and vice president are sworn into office on January 20th, Inauguration Day. January 2017

Past Inauguration Days

Flaws of the Electoral College

# 1 - Person who doesn’t win popular vote can be elected President 4 Elections Jackson (41.3%) v. J.Q. Adams (30.9%) J.Q. Adams winner Hayes (4.0M) to Tilden (4.2M) Hayes winner Cleveland (5.5M) to B. Harrison (5.4) Harrison winner Gore v. Bush (2000)

2000 Presidential Election 435 Representatives 100 Senators 3 Electoral Votes for Washington D.C. + ______________ 538 Electoral College Votes Majority = 270 Electoral College Votes Candidate Electoral Votes Popular Vote George W. Bush 271 50,456,002 Al Gore 266 50,999,897

How do you think the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore? q Decision A: Get those ballots out and count again! Bush ends up behind in the recount of ballots. Gore wins! q Decision B: No recounts! The Florida Supreme Court can’t order a recount in some districts of the state but not others. There isn’t enough time anyway! Bush wins! q Decision C: Recount ALL the votes in Florida, not just in the messed up districts, fast! Bush takes more of a lead in the recount and Gore concedes (gives up). Bush wins! ü Do you think the Court made the right decision?

#2: Electors don’t have to VOTE the way we tell them to Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee 1796 1820 1948 1956 1960 1968 1972 1976 1988 2000 2004 an elector from MN voted for John Edwards (twice, Pres & VP)

#3 Candidates may spend more time in swing or battle ground states #3 Candidates may spend more time in swing or battle ground states. Why do you think they do this? #4 How does the electoral college impact 3rd party candidates? What are some other reasons you can think of that make the electoral college challenging? Should the Constitution be amended? Why or Why not?