The Electoral College System

The Electoral College is a body of people (appointed by their state) who will elect the president and vice president of the United States. They actually meet in their respected states the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes.

House of Representatives = 435 United States Senate = 100 District of Columbia = Total In order to become the president/VP…you must receive 270 votes! (Majority)

John Thune (R) Tim Johnson (D)Kristi Noem (R)

Under this system, the presidential and vice presidential candidates who win the most popular votes within the state win all of the state’s electoral votes! Today, only Maine and Nebraska are not “winner-take-all” states. (Colorado proposed a similar plan but it was defeated in 2004.)

No! There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their states. There are actually 24 states that have laws that could fine “faithless actors” if they do not vote according to the popular vote of their state etc…

Is it possible for a presidential candidate to lose the election after winning the popular vote of the country?

In 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected president despite not winning either the popular vote or the electoral vote. Andrew Jackson was the winner in both categories. In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the election (by a margin of one electoral vote), but he lost the popular vote by more than 250,000 ballots to Samuel J. Tilden. In 1888, Benjamin Harrison received 233 electoral votes to Grover Cleveland’s 168, winning the presidency. But Harrison lost the popular vote by more than 90,000 votes. In 2000, George W. Bush was declared the winner of the general election and became the 43rd president, but he didn’t win the popular vote either. Al Gore holds that distinction, garnering about 540,000 more votes than Bush. However, Bush won the electoral vote, 271 to 266.

2000 George W. Bush Defeats Al Gore NomineeGeorge W. BushAlbert Gore, Jr. PartyRepublicanDemocrat Electoral Vote Popular Vote50,456,06250,996,582

2000 George W. Bush Defeats Al Gore

Again…In 1824 John Quincy Adams was elected president despite not winning either the popular vote or the electoral vote. Andrew Jackson was the winner in both categories. Jackson received 38,000 more popular votes than Adams, and beat him in the electoral vote 99 to 84. Despite his victories, Jackson didn’t reach the majority 131 votes needed in the Electoral College to be declared president. In fact, neither candidate did. The decision went to the House of Representatives, which voted Adams into the White House.

NomineeGeorge W. BushJohn F. Kerry PartyRepublicanDemocrat Electoral Vote Popular Vote62,039,07359,027, George W. Bush Defeats John Kerry

NomineeBarack ObamaJohn McCain PartyDemocratRepublican Electoral Vote Popular Vote69,297,99759,597, Barrack Obama Defeats John McCain

Some people say there are flaws in the current “Electoral College” System: Electors are not banned by law to vote for the most popular candidate! With the “winner-takes-all” system with, it is possible that the most popular candidate will lose the election! The House of Representatives could end up choosing the president!

For the Framers…it was the most workable solution! Other ideas in 1787: Have Congress choose the President! This idea was rejected because of fears of division and corruption in congress, as well as fear of upsetting the balance of power among the three branches of government. Have the State Legislatures select the President! This idea was also rejected out of fear that a president would focus too much on state legislatures, therefore eroding federal authority. By popular/direct vote! This caused concerns because people might vote for just people in their state or region!