1. A Brief History of the Electoral College How our Presidents are Elected

2. How it Works: Each state gets two electors, one for each senator …and one for each representative.

3. Representatives are allotted by population. Big States like California get a lot. …And small states like South Dakota get fewer. 3 votes

4. Washington D.C. In 1961 the 23 rd amendment gave the District of Columbia 3 electoral votes. …the same as a small state. 3 votes

5. Let’s do the math. 50 states times 2 senators each = 100 votes Plus 435 representatives =535 votes Plus 3 for D.C. =538 votes It takes at least 270 votes to win. 100 + 435 +3 =538

6. 1800 In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson and his vice presidential running mate, Aaron Burr were tied at 73 electoral votes a piece. In took Congress days to break the deadlock. Finally Jefferson was chosen by the House of Representatives and Burr became vice president. To prevent this problem from recurring, the twelfth Amendment allows for separate ballots for president and vice president. Jefferson was chosen in what he called The Revolution of 1800. Like a later vice president, Aaron Burr liked to shoot people.

7. 1824 In 1824, popular war hero, Andrew Jackson was the favorite among voters but… When no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes.. The House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams. Jackson accused Adams of making a corrupt bargain with powerful Congressman, Henry Clay. Adams was popular in the House of Representatives. Jackson was the people’s favorite.

8. 1860 Abraham Lincoln won the Election of 1860 without winning a single southern state. Shortly afterwards the American Civil War began.

9. 1876 In 1876 Samuel Tilden who was popular with southerners and the New York Democratic machine received the most popular votes but… …The House picked Rutherford B. Hayes who vowed to end reconstruction.

10. When Roosevelt ran with James Cox in 1920 He lost but… Harding won

11. Franklin Roosevelt Won by a landslide in 1932

12. Franklin Roosevelt »And again in 1936

13. F.D.R. »And again in 1940

14. F.D.R And again in 1944!

15. 1972 In 1972 Richard Nixon didn’t need to cheat in order to win, but… He did anyway and was forced to resign in 1974 as a result of the Watergate scandal.

16. 1984 In 1984 Ronald Reagan won in a landslide.

17. 2000 In 2000 Vice President Al Gore won the most popular votes but… George W. Bush won the electoral vote when he picked up the disputed state of Florida. The Supreme court halted a recount of the Florida votes which may have altered the outcome.

18. 2004 In 2004 President Bush won the popular vote and was reelected, but had he lost the disputed state of Ohio, the election would have gone the other way. A uniter, not a divider. He was for it before he was against it.

19. Here’s what happened in 2008 President Obama won 365 to 173 with 53% of the popular votes. President Obama

20. Here’s the breakdown by county from 2008. San Diego County went for Obama.

21. Final 2012

22. Of Course, you never know. President Harry Truman is smiling because, despite predictions of a Dewey victory, Truman won.