1. The Electoral College
Class Notes

2. Initial Vocabulary
Popular vote: votes that are cast by voters (average citizens)
Elector: person who promises to cast an Electoral vote for popularly selected candidate
Electoral Vote: votes cast by electors, for candidate that wins each state popular vote

3. What does “Electoral College” Mean?
A group of people, who promise to vote for the candidate who is selected by the popular vote (people).
Popular voters are actually voting for electors, not the President.

4. How is the Electoral College voting determined?
Each state has an allotted number of electoral votes based on the state’s representation in Congress.
Every state has 2 senators
Number of a state’s representatives is based on population.

5. How is the Electoral College voting determined?
Number of Senators plus number of Representatives equals number of Electoral votes.

6. Using the Formula Senators + Representatives = Electors PA 2 18 = 20
CA = 55
NY = 29
MT = 3

7. Using the Formula The total number of possible Electoral votes is 538.
Total number of Senators: 100
Total number of Representatives: 435
District of Columbia: 3
TOTAL NEEDED TO WIN: 270