The Presidential Selection Process?

A two-stage process Nomination General Election

General Election Rules FECA

Federal Election Campaign Act General election: Public financing for presidential campaigns (with limits on campaign spending)

General Election Rules FECA The Electoral College

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress

Electoral College Each state gets number of electors equal to Reps + Senators Electors are NOT Reps or Senators themselves Electors chosen by the parties + campaigns Electors meet in own states Cast two votes, one for president, one for vice president Person with majority of electoral votes becomes president If no majority, House of Representatives (one vote per state delegation) selects president from among top three Electoral College vote-getters

Some problems with the Electoral College? Faithless Electors? A small/big state advantage? The winner of the popular vote doesn’t always become president Not transparent All votes not weighted equally

Alternatives to the Electoral College? Pros and Cons?

Strategic Consequences of the Electoral College?

Strategic consequences of the Electoral College Candidates focus on big states with lots of Electoral Votes Candidates focus on swing states, where money and face time might make a difference

Sure things REPUBLICAN STATES: –AL: 9, AR: 3, AK: 6, GA: 15, ID: 4, KS: 6, KY: 8, LA: 9, MS: 6, MT: 3, NE: 5, ND: 3, OK: 7, SC: 8, SD: 3, TX: 34, UT: 5, WY: 3. –Total: 147 DEMOCRATIC STATES –CA: 55, CT: 7, DE: 3, DC: 3, HI: 4, IL: 21, ME: 4, MD: 10, MA: 12, NJ: 15, NY: 31, RI: 4, VT: 3 –Total: 169

The purple states The West: –Arizona: 10 EV, Colorado: 9 EV, Nevada: 5 EV, –New Mexico: 5 EV, Oregon: 7 EV, Washington: 11 EV The Midwest: –Minnesota: 10 EV, Iowa: 7 EV, Missouri: 11 EV, Ohio: 20 EV, Pennsylvania: 21 EV, Michigan 17 EV, Indiana 11 –Wisconsin: 10 EV, Border states: –Tennessee: 11 EV, West Virginia: 5 EV, Virginia 13 The South: Florida: 27 EV, North Carolina, 15 The North: New Hampshire: 4 EV

Targeted States, 2004 StateVisitsAds? Electoral Votes Difference in two-party percent of vote OH45X202.1% IA31X70.67% PA30X212.5% WI28X100.38% FL23X275.0% MN19X103.5% MI17X 3.5% NM12X50.8% WV11X512.9% CO10X94.8% NH10X41.3% MO7117.2% NV7X52.4% NC %

The Electoral Calendar ELECTION DAY –By late evening, one candidate leads in the exit polls in enough states to win 270 Electoral Votes, and the Media declares a winner. –One candidate concedes the election, the other proclaims victory (usually)

The Electoral Calendar First Monday following First Wednesday in December: Electors meet in their state capitols and cast their formal votes for president January 6, 2009: The President of the Senate opens and counts the votes January 20, 2009: The newly elected (or re- elected) president is inaugurated

What kinds of presidential candidates are favored in this system? Are they the kind we want? To whom are they accountable?