1. Understanding the Electoral College

3. The District of Columbia (Washington D. C
The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) receives three electoral votes, as determined by the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.

4. majority rule = half + one
What does it take to win?
majority rule = half + one
538 ) 2 = = 270
270

5. ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

6. MINIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTORS FOR ANY STATE

7. THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELECTORS

8. ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

9. THE SEVEN SMALLEST

10. THE SEVEN SMALLEST

11. THE SEVEN SMALLEST

12. 7 smallest states

13. ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS

14. THE SEVEN BIGGEST

15. THE SEVEN BIGGEST

16. 7 biggest states
= 55
= 34
= 31
= 27
= 21
= 21
= 20

17. WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

18. WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?

19. 4 more states
= 17
= 15
= 15
= 15

20. How does it work?

22. Each state’s block of electors assembles in their respective state capitol on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. At this meeting, the electors sign the Certificate of Vote, which is sealed and delivered to the Office of the President of the United States Senate.

24. A special joint session of the U.S. Congress convenes in early January. At this meeting, the President of the Senate reads the Certificates of Votes and declares the official winner.

25. If no presidential candidate receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the president is chosen by the House of Representatives from among the three leading candidates.
270

26. If no candidate receives a majority of votes for vice president, that official is chosen by the Senate. The choice is made from among the two candidates with the highest number of electoral votes.
270

27. Congress has had to choose the president only twice—in 1800 and 1824—and the vice president only once—in 1836.
J. Adams
J.Q. Adams
vs.
vs.
Jefferson
Jackson

28. too many presidential candidates split the vote making it
impossible for any one of them
to achieve a majority vote in
the electoral college
electors didn’t distinguish which
candidate they wanted for
president and which they
wanted for vice president -
corrected by 12th Amendment

29. RESULTS OF 2000 ELECTION
electoral college vote in December doesn’t match popular vote in November

31. RESULTS OF 2008 ELECTION
69,456,897
52.9%
45.7%
59,934,814