Contested Presidential Elections in America A Senior Capstone Presented By Amanda Blessing

Presidential Elections are America’s ultimate symbol of the political nation. The office of the American President was created to be a single executive able to wield power, and lead America to greatness. They are the figurehead of the country, known more widely throughout the world than even the oldest monarchies.

In the History of Presidential Elections, much has changed since the first election in The election season starts sooner now, during the primaries where the candidates accept their nominations. Campaigning then ensues, where America utilizes its voter turnout, relying on its voter systems. The voting system that America uses now is called winner-take-all. This system of plurality voting is said to be fair, cheap, and simple to tabulate the votes. With this system in place, there is an alternative that could work well with the American policy system. The alternative is Proportional Representation. Three forms of this system: The List System The Mixed Member System Instant Runoff Voting, or Single Transferable Vote

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Created by the framers as a way to fairly select the winners of elections. Each State has one vote for their 2 senators, and votes based on the number of representatives they have. To win, a candidate must secure 270 of the 538 Electoral Votes.

Election of main Candidates: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State and Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee Senator. Jackson won the popular vote, but Adams won the Electoral Vote, thereby winning the presidency. Jackson was very angry, he claimed that Adams had promised the position of Secretary of State to Henry Clay, who was influential in the House, in order to receive votes.

Election of 1876 Republican candidate was Rutherford Hayes, 3-time Governor of Ohio, and Democratic candidate was Lawyer Samuel Tilden. Tilden won the popular vote, however there were claims of voter intimidation and poll violence in Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Special Commission made by Congress: 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats. Hayes won, with 185 votes. Tilden had received 184.

Election of 2000 Republican candidate: George W. Bush. Democratic candidate: Al Gore All votes depended on Florida, since it had 25 electoral votes. At the end of election night, Gore had 255 electoral votes and Bush had 246. After Florida was counted, it was given to Bush. Gore filed lawsuits after it was found that ballots were inconsistent and that Florida had purged voter registrations.

Election of 2004 George W. Bush, Republican candidate, and John Kerry, Democrat. Bush won popular vote by 51%. A “Faithless” Elector in Minnesota had voted for Kerry’s running mate, John Edwards, for president. Ohio last to give results, Bush won. Lawsuits were filed claiming voter fraud.

Electoral Count Act “providing that if a State finalized any electoral controversy, then the Governor would allow the decision to be made by the Secretary of State; that if more than one return of vote should be made by a State to the president of the Senate, that one shall be counted which was delivered by regular Electors; that when the question is which of two election boards in a State is regular, that one will be recognized which the Senate and the House decide to be the one authorized by law; but if the Houses disagree, then the Electors certified by the Governor of the State shall be accepted;

Electoral Count Act that Congress shall sit in joint session in the House of Representatives at one o’clock in the afternoon of the second Wednesday in February following the meeting of Electors; that there shall be two tellers for the Senate and two for the House, who shall receive from the president of the Senate the election returns from each State as he opens them in alphabetical order and who shall read the returns on the hearing of the joint session and make lists of the results and give them to the president of the Senate for announcement; and finally, that the president of the Senate shall call for objections in writing from any State for consideration from each House. (Congressional Quarterly, 2005, 744.)”

Polarization of Politics Politics need to become less polarized. Campaigning must become ethical again. Gerrymandering must cease. The lines of communication need to be watched. And, Americans must know that their vote counts!