1. The Electoral College

2. What is the Electoral College?
a process that began as part of the original design of the U.S. Constitution
established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote (how the people vote)

3. Does that mean people don’t vote for the President?
YES and NO - The people of the United States participate in a popular vote for President.

4. At the same time of the Popular Vote, Electors are being selected by the citizens.
Ultimately, the people of the United States vote for the electors who then vote for the President

5. Who are the electors?
Electors are often selected to recognize their service and dedication to their political party. They may be State-elected officials, party leaders, or persons who have a personal or political affiliation with the Presidential candidate.

6. What are the qualifications to be an elector?
The U.S. Constitution contains very few provisions relating to the qualifications of electors. Article II, section 1, clause 2 provides that no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector

7. Must electors vote for the candidate who won their State's popular vote?
NO -There is no Constitutional provision or Federal law that requires electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their States.
But, some states require electors to cast their votes according to the popular vote.

8. Which states are not bound by law to vote the way of the people?
ARIZONA - 10 Electoral Votes ARKANSAS - 6 Electoral Votes DELAWARE - 3 Electoral Votes GEORGIA - 15 Electoral Votes IDAHO - 4 Electoral Votes ILLINOIS - 21 Electoral Votes INDIANA - 11 Electoral Votes IOWA - 7 Electoral Votes KANSAS - 6 Electoral Votes KENTUCKY - 8 Electoral Votes LOUISIANA - 9 Electoral Votes MINNESOTA - 10 Electoral Votes MISSOURI - 11 Electoral Votes
NEW HAMPSHIRE - 4 Electoral Votes NEW JERSEY - 15 Electoral Votes NEW YORK - 31 Electoral Votes NORTH DAKOTA - 3 Electoral Votes PENNSYLVANIA - 21 Electoral Votes RHODE ISLAND - 4 Electoral Votes SOUTH DAKOTA - 3 Electoral Votes TENNESSEE - 11 Electoral Votes TEXAS - 34 Electoral Votes UTAH - 5 Electoral Votes WEST VIRGINIA - 5 Electoral Votes

9. ELECTORAL MAP Blue = Dem. Red = Rep. Yellow = Undecided
As predicted by CNN – OCT. 29, 2008

10. How many electoral votes per state?
Each state has the same number of electoral votes as they have representatives in Congress (2 Senators + # of House of Representatives)
There are 538 total Elector votes – You need half to win – 270
ILLINOIS has – 21 electoral votes

11. How many Electoral votes do you need to win?
Barack Obama277
192 Safe | 85 Leaning
John McCain174
122 Safe | 52 Leaning
As projected by CNN – Oct. 29, 2008