2. Think about it…

3. What do you know about how our president is elected?

5. The Electoral College When we talk about this election process, we say that our president and vice president are elected by the Electoral College. There is not a college with a campus and students. Another meaning for “college” is a group that meets and has special duties. What is the Electoral College?

6. The Electoral College The Electoral College has the duty to elect the president of the United States. But its vote is based on how the people in each state voted. What is the Electoral College?

7. Electoral Votes We elect our president and vice president by what we call electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress:

8. Electoral Votes We elect our president and vice president by what we call electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress: Senators………………………100

9. Electoral Votes We elect our president and vice president by what we call electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress: Senators………………………100 Representatives ………..435

10. Electoral Votes We elect our president and vice president by what we call electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress: Senators……….…………………100 Representatives ……….…..435 From District of Columbia….3

11. Electoral Votes We elect our president and vice president by what we call electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress: Senators……….…………………100 Representatives ……….…..435 From District of Columbia….3 Total electors ………………….538

12. Electoral Votes Each state is allotted the number of electoral votes equal to the number of members that it has in the U.S. Congress. For instance: South Dakota has two senators and one representative, so it will have a total of three electoral votes. 2 Senators & 1 Representative = 3 Electors

13. Electoral Votes Each state is allotted the number of electoral votes equal to the number of members that it has in the U.S. Congress. Another instance: California has two senators and fifty-three representatives, so it will have a total of fifty-five electoral votes. 2 Senators & 53 Representative = 55 Electors

14. Electoral Votes Each state is allotted the number of electoral votes equal to the number of members that it has in the U.S. Congress. Maine and Nebraska each award 2 votes (Senate) to the winner of the popular vote for the entire state, however they also award 1 vote for each of the House of Representative Congressional Districts in the state. Whoever wins the popular vote in each district wins a single electoral vote. 2 Senators 3 Congressional Districts = 5 Potential Electors Nebraska

15. Electoral Votes Each state is allotted the number of electoral votes equal to the number of members that it has in the U.S. Congress. Maine and Nebraska each award 2 votes (Senate) to the winner of the popular vote for the entire state, however they also award 1 vote for each of the House of Representative Congressional Districts in the state. Whoever wins the popular vote in each district wins a single electoral vote. 2 Senators 2 Congressional Districts = 4 Potential Electors Maine

16. Electoral Votes Total electors ………………….538 To win the election you need to receive 50% plus one vote.

17. Electoral Votes Total electors ………………….538 To win the election you need to receive 50% plus one vote. 50% = 269 Electoral votes

18. Electoral Votes Total electors ………………….538 To win the election you need to receive 50% plus one vote. 50% = 269 Electoral votes +1 = 270 Electoral votes

19. Electoral Votes Total electors ………………….538 To win the election you need to receive 50% plus one vote. 50% = 269 Electoral votes +1 = 270 Electoral votes 270 Electoral votes to Win!

20. Electoral Votes The political party in each state nominates a set of electors equal of that state’s number of members of Congress. For California: fifty-five Republican electors, who would be expected to vote for the Republican ticket.

21. Electoral Votes The political party in each state nominates a set of electors equal of that state’s number of members of Congress. For California: fifty-five Democrat electors, who would be expected to vote for the Democrat ticket.

22. Electoral Votes The political party in each state nominates a set of electors equal of that state’s number of members of Congress. Independent parties would nominate a set of electors as well.

23. When Do We Vote? We vote on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The winning ticket in each state gets all of that state’s electoral votes. The Last Presidential Election Date was: November 6, 2012 The Next Presidential Election Date will be: November 8, 2016

24. When Will We Find Out Who Won? We may know who the winner is on the night of the presidential election. However, there are other steps that make it official. In December, the winning electors from each state meet in their state capitals and cast their votes. They are expected to vote for the ticket that won the popular vote in their state. In a very few cases, unfaithful electors haven’t cast their vote for the winners.

25. When Will We Find Out Who Won? These electoral votes are put into sealed envelopes and sent to the president of the U.S. Senate (the Vice President). On January 6 th, he opens the envelopes. The results are then read before a meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

26. When Will We Find Out Who Won? If there is a tie, or no one gets as many as 270 votes, the House of Representatives must decide who will be president. Each state has only one vote. The Senate does the same for Vice President. This does not happen very often. It has happened only twice in our history. They were Thomas Jefferson in 1800 and John Quincy Adams in 1828.

27. When Will We Find Out Who Won? There have been three occasions when an individual has won the Electoral College and become President of the United States but has not won the popular vote. They were: 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes 1888: Benjamin Harrison 2000: George W. Bush