1. How the Electoral College Works
Video:How the Electoral College Works

2. Why was it Created?
Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote.
Wanted to establish a role for the states in the election process = federalism
Candidate with an overwhelming majority of votes in one part of the country couldn’t be elected by a slim overall popular majority

3. United States Constitution
The United States Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected.
Article II Section: Electoral College
538 people called electors responsible for electing the Pres and VP
# of members in House of Reps (435) + # of members in Senate (100) + 3 for Washington D.C (23rd Amendment) = 538

4. The Number of Electoral College Votes Each State has is Determined by:
Total Number of Electoral College Votes
Number of Representatives
Number of Senators + =
Changes with Census…
Each State has Two Senators
Each State has at Least One Representative
Determined by Population at time of Census

5. To Be an Elector Electors will be appointed by state legislature
Electors must be loyal party members

6. To be an Elector Any eligible voter can be an elector
Electors may not hold any other office
Electors do not get paid, they have other jobs
Electors names appear on the ballot under the candidate they will vote for.

7. What Role does the Census play?
Every ten years the U.S. Census is taken to determine how many representatives each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
This number helps to determine the number of electors for each state.

8. Steps in the Electoral College Process

9. Election Day will be on November 8.
Step One: Election Day
An act of Congress sets the day for presidential and congressional elections as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
November 2016
Election Day will be on November 8.

10. Step 1: Popular Vote
On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President
What choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like.
These electors are then supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state

11. Step 2: Electoral Vote
The Electoral Vote is determine by the number of Senators + House of Representatives for each state & 3 for Washington D.C.
For example: Georgia has a total of 16 Electoral votes – 2 for members of Senate and 14 for members of House of Representatives.
California has 55 Electoral Votes.

12. Step 3: Winner Takes All Rule
Candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state (this is in 48 states).
Nebraska and Maine have proportional system - each candidate gets some votes
What are your thoughts…should the winner take all or the vote be split?

13. Step 4
Majority rules
The Candidate who wins 270 Electoral Votes wins the election.

14. Step 5: Voting by Electors
Electors meet in each State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December).
It takes 270 votes out of 538 to win the presidency.

15. When do the electors meet?
December 2016
The electors will meet on December 19.

16. Step 6: Counting Ballots
Electoral votes are sent to the president of the Senate in DC (VP)
The president of the Senate (VP) counts the votes on January 6 before a joint session of Congress
If there is a tie, the President will be decided by the House of Representatives

17. When are electoral votes counted?
The President of the Senate (current Vice President) counts the electoral votes on January 6, unless it falls on a Sunday.
January 2017
The electoral votes will be counted on January 6.

18. Step 7: When does the president take office?
The new president and vice president are sworn into office on
January 20th,
Inauguration Day.
January 2017

19. Past Inauguration Days

20. Flaws of the Electoral College

21. # 1 - Person who doesn’t win popular vote can be elected President
4 Elections
Jackson (41.3%) v. J.Q. Adams (30.9%)
J.Q. Adams winner
Hayes (4.0M) to Tilden (4.2M)
Hayes winner
Cleveland (5.5M) to B. Harrison (5.4)
Harrison winner
Gore v. Bush (2000)

22. 2000 Presidential Election
435 Representatives
100 Senators
3 Electoral Votes for Washington D.C. +
______________
538 Electoral College Votes
Majority = 270 Electoral College Votes
Candidate Electoral Votes Popular Vote
George W. Bush ,456,002
Al Gore ,999,897

23. How do you think the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore?
q Decision A: Get those ballots out and count again! Bush ends up behind in the recount of ballots. Gore wins!
q Decision B: No recounts! The Florida Supreme Court can’t order a recount in some districts of the state but not others. There isn’t enough time anyway! Bush wins!
q Decision C: Recount ALL the votes in Florida, not just in the messed up districts, fast! Bush takes more of a lead in the recount and Gore concedes (gives up). Bush wins! ü
Do you think the Court made the right decision?

24. #2: Electors don’t have to VOTE the way we tell them to
Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee
1796
1820
1948
1956
1960
1968
1972
1976
1988
2000
2004 an elector from MN voted for John Edwards (twice, Pres & VP)

25. #3 Candidates may spend more time in swing or battle ground states
#3 Candidates may spend more time in swing or battle ground states. Why do you think they do this? #4 How does the electoral college impact 3rd party candidates?
What are some other reasons you can think of that make the electoral college challenging? Should the Constitution be amended? Why or Why not?