1. Presidential Elections
Chapter 8 Section 2 Notes

2. Original System Only Electoral Vote: no popular vote
Electors met/cast votes
2nd place = VP
Ties: each state gets 1 vote in House of Reps
1800 Election (Jefferson/Burr) = System change

3. Partner Discussion
Based on what you know, explain the differences between the original presidential election process and the process we have today

4. Today Parties select candidate Election Day: Tues after 1st Mon in Nov
Separate ballots for Prez and VP
Voting for state electors

5. Politics Today

6. Electors
538
Congress Seats
District of Columbia Electors
Electors of state party winner cast vote (party representative)
Officially vote in Dec
Only 9 have broken custom

7. California Electoral Votes Comparison
September, 1850 (Compromise of 1850)
Gained votes each census except
1920 (No Reapportionment Act)
2010
Comparison
electoral votes, passes NY for #1
, more than 10% of total

8. California Voting Trends Reliably Democratic today
Republican (except ‘64)
‘08/’12: Obama wins by about 60%-37%

9. Battleground State Voters fairly evenly split between Dem & Rep
Potential shift in each election (swing to either side)
AKA “Swing States” or “Purple States”
Vitally important to election
Losing swing states likely means lost election
Candidates spend high number of resources
Examples
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida
Non-example: Alaska (Voted Dem once in 56 years)
Battleground State

10. 2016 Presidential Electoral Map (Projected)
election-battleground-states

11. Voting Process
The Voting Process Summarized

12. Problems with Electoral Process
Winner take all
Winner of state wins all of votes (except Maine & Nebraska)
Possible to lose popular vote, but win election
3rd Party Candidates
Ties: Election by House
1 vote per state; 26 votes needed
All states equal
Reps can’t decide: state loses vote

13. Presidents Who Lost Popular Vote
Year
President
Electoral Vote
Popular Vote
Opponent
1876
Rutherford B. Hayes
185
4,034,311
Samuel J. Tiden
184
4,288,546
1888
Benjamin Harrison
233
5,443,892
Grover Cleveland
168
5,534,488
2000
George W. Bush
271
50,456,002
Albert Gore
266
50,999,897
2016
Donald Trump
306
62,979,636
Hilary Clinton
232
65,844,610

14. Reform Ideas District-based electors Percentage-based electors:
2 electors per state, plus 1 for each district
Candidate winner of each district get vote
Winner of most districts in state wins 2 extra elector’s votes
Percentage-based electors:
Population vote % = state elector %
Eliminate elector voting shifts
Enlarge role of 3rd party candidates: can force House vote
Direct popular election
No electoral vote
Problems:
Eliminate state role
Candidates focus on large-populations

15. Partner Discussion
Based on the proposed processes for electing the President in the US, which process do you feel is the best way? Explain you reasoning.

16. 2004
Bush: 286
Kerry: 251

17. 2008
McCain: 173
Obama: 365

18. 2012
Romney: 206
Obama: 332