1. Getting to know the Electoral College

2. U.S. Constitution
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: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

3. 12th Amendment (1804)
After the Election of 1800 (Jefferson vs. Adams – which later became Jefferson vs. Burr) many saw the need to change the way the Constitution designed the Electoral College.
Today the Vice
President and
President are
elected on the
same ticket.

4. Getting to Know the Electoral College (4:43)

5. ELECTION 2000 CANDIDATES George W. Bush/ Dick Cheney Republicans
Al Gore/ Joe Lieberman Democrats
Ralph Nader/ Winona LaDuke Green
Pat Buchanan/ Ezola Foster Reform
Harry Browne/ Art Olivier Libertarian
James Harris/ Margaret Trowe Socialists
John Hagelin/ Nat Goldhaber Natural Law
Monica Moorehead/ Gloria LaRiva Workers

6. “Butterfly Ballot” West Palm Beach, Florida

7. West Palm Beach Election Rules
Any duplicate marks- Voided Ballot
Any sheet with two holes- Voided Ballot
Any sheet not punched through all the way- Voided Ballot.
“Hanging Chad”

8. NEEDED TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY
538 TOTAL ELECTORAL VOTES
50% +1 = WINNER
269 = 50%
270 =WINNER OF ELECTION

9. FLORIDA VOTES 2000 ELECTION
GEORGE W. BUSH
ALBERT GORE
RALPH NADER
PAT BUCHANAN
2,912,790
2,912,253
97,488
3,407

10. Why those were probably not votes for Patrick Buchanan…
Buchanan once praised Hitler.
The counties vote = 20% of his state total.
19,000 other ballots were nullified in the same county for having two punched holes.
Buchanan earned 0.3% in State election.
Buchanan earned 0.8% in county election.
The county is made up mostly of liberal JEWISH voters who have retired from northeastern states (like NY)

11. Florida Final Vote
George W. Bush
All 25 Electoral Votes

12. ELECTION 2000
BUSH - 271
GORE - 266

13. 2000 RESULTS GEORGE W. BUSH AL GORE RALPH NADER 271 ELECTORAL VOTES
50.5 MILLION VOTES
AL GORE
266 ELECTORAL VOTES
51 MILLION VOTES
RALPH NADER
0 ELECTORAL VOTES
2.8 MILLION VOTES

14. ELECTION 2004

15. 2004 RESULTS GEORGE W. BUSH JOHN KERRY RALPH NADER 286 ELECTORAL VOTES
62 MILLION VOTES
JOHN KERRY
251 ELECTORAL VOTES
59 MILLION VOTES
RALPH NADER
0 ELECTORAL VOTES
463 THOUSAND VOTES

16. Election 2008

17. 2008 RESULTS Barack Obama John McCain Ralph Nader 365 ELECTORAL VOTES
69.5 MILLION VOTES
John McCain
173 ELECTORAL VOTES
59.9 MILLION VOTES
Ralph Nader
0 ELECTORAL VOTES
738 THOUSAND VOTES

18. Election 2012

19. 2012 RESULTS Barack Obama Mitt Romney Gary Johnson 332 ELECTORAL VOTES
65.9 MILLION VOTES
Mitt Romney
206 ELECTORAL VOTES
60.9 MILLION VOTES
Gary Johnson
0 ELECTORAL VOTES
1.3 MILLION VOTES

20. Election 2012 (by county)

21. BIGGEST LANDSLIDE 1984
Reagan 525, Mondale 13

22. Role of 3rd Parties Spoiler Role
Pull support from the major parties (Nader)
Roosevelt/Taft vs. Wilson
Innovator
Willing and able to discuss controversial issues

23. 2012
Election
Results

24. 2016 Electoral Projection
Take out your 2016 Presidential Election Electoral Projection (back of Election Collection Guide)
2012 Presidential Election Results