A Short History of the Electoral College

A State Gets One Elector For Each: Representative it has in the House of Representatives and Senator (2 per state) it has in the U.S. Senate.

Two Electoral Votes for Your Two U.S. Senators Plus One Electoral Vote For Each of Your U.S. Representatives

Two U.S. Senators = 2 Fifty three US Representatives = 53 Total California E.V. = 55

Two U.S. Senators = 2 Eleven U.S. Representatives = 11 Total Va. Electoral Votes = 13

Two U.S. Senators = 2 One U.S. Representative = 1 Total Wyoming E.V. = 3

In 1961, even though it wasn’t a state, the 23 rd Amendment gave Washington, D.C. Electoral Votes equal to the smallest (by population) state. Now there were 538 total Electoral Votes. All 50 states = 535 Electoral Votes Washington, DC = 3 Electoral Votes Total = 538 Electoral Votes

Democrat Electors 1. Joe Jones 2. Betsy Smith 3. John Doe 4. Sally Green 5. Michael Moore 6. Dan Rather 7. Mary Wills 8. Tyrone Smith 9. Ivana Trump 10. Dewey Dontwe 11. Linda Robb 12. Bob Washington 13. James Carville Republican Electors 1. Terry Hart 2. Nancy Bayer 3. Ernie Davis 4. Matt Schaub 5. Debbie Jones 6. Linda Tripp 7. Lee Atwater 8. Jim Owens 9. Bill Fraser 10. Jim Baker 11. Rush Limbaugh 12. Wilma Knowles 13. Mary Matlin Winner Take All In modern times each Political Party picks a number of Electors to represent it in each state. In Virginia, the Democrats pick 13 Electors and the Republicans pick 13 Electors etc.

Virginia Election Day Results 1,512,012 Votes (Popular Votes) 1,822,030 Votes (Popular Votes) Democrat Electors 1. Joe Jones 2. Betsy Smith 3. John Doe 4. Sally Green 5. Michael Moore 6. Dan Rather 7. Mary Wills 8. Tyrone Smith 9. Ivana Trump 10. Dewey Dontwe 11. Linda Robb 12. Bob Washington 13. James Carville Republican Electors 1. Terry Hart 2. Nancy Bayer 3. Ernie Davis 4. Matt Schaub 5. Debbie Jones 6. Linda Tripp 7. Lee Atwater 8. Jim Owens 9. Bill Fraser 10. Jim Baker 11. Rush Limbaugh 12. Wilma Knowles 13. Mary Matlin

Virginia Election Day Results 1,512,012 Votes (Popular Votes) 1,822,030 Votes (Popular Votes) Democrat Electors 1. Joe Jones 2. Betsy Smith 3. John Doe 4. Sally Green 5. Michael Moore 6. Dan Rather 7. Mary Wills 8. Tyrone Smith 9. Ivana Trump 10. Dewey Dontwe 11. Linda Robb 12. Bob Washington 13. James Carville Republican Electors 1. Terry Hart 2. Nancy Bayer 3. Ernie Davis 4. Matt Schaub 5. Debbie Jones 6. Linda Tripp 7. Lee Atwater 8. Jim Owens 9. Bill Fraser 10. Jim Baker 11. Rush Limbaugh 12. Wilma Knowles 13. Mary Matlin

13 GOP Slate Has More Popular Votes  On Election Day the voters picked the GOP slate  Those 13 GOP Electors will represent Virginia in the Electoral College Republican Electors 1. Terry Hart 2. Nancy Bayer 3. Ernie Davis 4. Matt Schaub 5. Debbie Jones 6. Linda Tripp 7. Lee Atwater 8. Jim Owens 9. Bill Fraser 10. Jim Baker 11. Rush Limbaugh 12. Wilma Knowles 13. Mary Matlin

3 Electors 55 Electors On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December the Electors meet in their state capitols to vote. 55 Electors

13 Electors The Electoral ballots are then sent to Washington, D.C. to be counted on January 6 by the President of the Senate (The Vice President of the U.S.) Virginia’s 13 Electors Go To State Capitol in Richmond in Mid-December to Vote

To be elected President a candidate must receive electoral votes equal to a majority of the all the electors. 538 Total Electors X 50% + 1 ____________________ 270 Electoral Votes

House of Representatives If no candidate receives 270 or more Electoral Votes, the election goes to the House of Representatives. The House will try to select a winner from the top 3 candidates who received Electoral Votes for President in the Electoral College (Amendment 12). Each state will get one vote regardless of how many U.S. Representatives it has in the House.

 Vermont has a population of about 615,000 people.  Vermont has 1 (one) U.S. Representative in the House of Representatives.  Vermont will get 1 (one) vote for President in the back-up system.  That one U.S. Representative will cast one vote in the back-up system. The Back-up System

 California has a population of about 36,000,000 people.  It has 53 U.S. Representatives in the House of Representatives.  California will get 1 (one) vote for President in the back-up system.  Those 53 Representatives will have to reach an agreement (Majority vote) on who gets that one vote. The Back-up System

Virginia has a population of about 7,200,000 people. It has 11 U.S. Representatives in the House of Representatives. Virginia will get 1 (one) vote for President in the back-up system. Those 11 Representatives will have to reach an agreement (Majority vote) on who gets that one vote.

The Back-up System The House of Representatives has only had to serve as a “back-up system” for the Electoral College two times in our history = 1824 =

It gives small (in population) states more weight than a strictly proportional system would. Would whole regions of U.S. feel ignored with straight-up popular vote? Why some like the present system.

 The “Winner take-all” feature tends to make voters pick one of the two major parties.  Countries with many parties sometimes have trouble picking a winner and holding the government together. Why some like the present system. Italy France

Some argue that the “winner-take-all” format gives minority groups needed power to be heard. They point out that if they vote as a bloc they can deliver a whole state and thus get political the attention of the powerful.  African- Americans = About 10% of U.S. population  Illinois (21) + N.Y. (31) = 19% of Electoral Votes needed to win Why some like the present system.

 The “Winner take-all” feature tends to make voter fraud less attractive.  Someone would have to steal enough votes to win a state to have an impact. Voter fraud in one state is limited to that state.

Criticism of the present system: Discourages voters from voting for candidates other than those representing the two major parties because (with the exception of Maine and Nebraska) you must win the whole state to have an effect on the Electoral Vote.

Criticism of the present system: It even discourages voters from the two major parties from voting in states where their party is vastly outnumbered. (Again, Maine and Nebraska are exceptions.) Dems. = Democrats in Utah

Criticism of the present system: It violates “one man, one vote” democratic principles. An elector in Wyoming represents about 164,000 residents of Wyoming. An elector in North Dakota represents about 214,000 residents of North Dakota. An elector in California represents about 660,000 residents of California.

Criticism of the present system: Jewish – Americans = less than 3% of US population NY (31) + Fla. (27) = 21% of Electoral Votes needed to win Some critics argue that the “winner-take-all” format gives relatively small groups too much power. They point out that if they vote as a bloc they can deliver a whole state and thus get too many political favors.

Direct Popular Vote  Direct popular vote.  Plurality winner President if over 40%  Run-off top two if no-one has 40% or better

 Increase interest in partisan states  Essence of democracy  Break monopoly of two major parties  Reduce power of blocs and swing states Support for Direct Popular Vote Plan

Criticism of Direct Popular Vote Plan  Increased incentive for fraud  Reduces influence of small states/groups  Encourages third parties to cause more run-offs  Amendment that is required won’t pass

National Bonus Plan Bonus points  Keep Electoral votes per formula but do away with electors  Add 102 “Bonus” Electoral points for the winner of the popular vote

 Retains much of what we have for parties, states, small groups.  Increases interest in partisan states  Less chance of fraud  No “Faithless Electors”  Almost guarantees popular vote winner will win Support for National Bonus Plan

Maine and Nebraska’s District plus At Large Plan District 1 District 2 District 3 Each district votes for 1 Elector for the District and for 2 Electors for the whole state.

The Electoral College The End

How many total Electoral Votes are there? A. 435 B. 535 C. 438 D. 538

What is the smallest number of Electoral votes a state can have? F. 1 G. 2 H. 3 J. None of these

Most states use what plan for giving out their Electoral Votes? A. Winner-Take All Plan B. National Bonus Plan C. The Maine/Nebraska Plan D. The Proportional Plan

Who picks the Electors who will cast the state’s Electoral Votes? F. The Governor of the state G. The State Senate H. The voters of the state J. The state Supreme Court

A state’s Electoral Vote total is based on: A. Its population B. Its Congressional representation C. The number of registered voters D. The number who voted in the last election

Who is favored by requiring the winner to have a majority of Electoral Votes? F. The Democrats G. The Republicans H. Independents or Third Parties J. The two major parties

Which state currently has the most Electoral Votes? A. California B. New York C. Florida D. Texas

Which two states use a “District Plus At Large ” plan F. Florida and Texas G. Maine and Nebraska H. Wyoming and Illinois J. New York and Florida

Which is not true of a direct popular vote? A. It would require a Constitutional Amendment B. It is undemocratic C. It might encourage more fraud D. It probably will encourage third parties

Who serves as a “back-up” to the Electoral College? F. The Supreme Court G. The House of Representatives H. The Cabinet J. The Joint Chiefs of Staff

Electoral College Really the end!