1. What is the Electoral College?

2. Quick Review
What is the main difference between most elections and presidential elections?
Who created the electoral college and why?
How many electoral votes does it take to win the Presidency?
How is the number of electoral votes a state has determined?
How might the number of electoral votes a state has impact campaigns?

3. Electoral College
Objective: To analyze the Electoral College, as well as proposed alternatives, and consider which is the most effective and efficient way to elect our nation’s leader.
Essential Skill: Examine information from more than one point of view, assess the information, and draw conclusions (C4 & C8)

4. Elections in 50 states that award delegates to the convention
January June August November
Primaries start …and end DNC/RNC The General Election
First Caucus?
First Primary?
More Primaries or Caucuses?
Elections in 50 states that award delegates to the convention
Elections in 50 states that award electoral votes in the electoral college

5. Democratic Primary Results 2008
Purple denotes an Obama win and gold a Clinton win
TOTAL DELEGATES IN THE NATION: 4,223
June 3, 2008
Montana primary
Jan.3, 2008
Iowa caucuses
Candidates “win” a state by passing their opponent in total votes in that state’s presidential primary or caucus – Yet every candidate gets some “delegates” depending on how much of that popular vote they received. The candidate with the most delegates will win the nomination at the national party convention in August

6. The Idea Behind the Electoral College
The Founders sought to protect the Presidential election from manipulation, to preserve states’ rights and to put a check on the people’s choice for President…
goal
solution
…they created a two-step presidential election process so that the President is not directly elected by the people.

7.  The Process of the Electoral College Pennsylvania Jane 6,317,640
Bob 5,751,398
Lucy ,350 
All of Pennsylvania’s 20 Electoral Votes are awarded to Candidate Jane...
EACH STATE’S # OF ELECTORAL
VOTES IS DIFFERENT BASED ON
ITS POPULATION COMPARED
TO ALL OTHER STATES
18 House members
+ 2 Senators = 20

8. How to Win the Presidency
The Winner is…..
THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST ELECTORAL VOTES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
TOTAL POSSIBLE ELECTORAL VOTES = 538
100 members of US Senate
435 members of US House of Representatives
3 for the District of Columbia (Wash D.C.)

9. REVIEW: The Idea Behind the Electoral College
The Founders sought to protect the Presidential election from manipulation, to preserve states’ rights and to put a check on the people’s choice for President…
goal
PEOPLE VOTE STATE BY STATE
ELECTORS CAST FINAL BALLOT
solution
…they created a two-step presidential election process so that the President is not directly elected by the people.
1. CITIZENS VOTE FOR PARTY-BASED ELECTORS IN HOME STATE
2. ELECTORS FOR WINNING PARTY CAST BALLOTS FOR CANDIDATE

10. 2012 Electoral College Results in the Presidential Election

11. Possible Downsides to the Electoral College
Due to “Winner Takes All”….
Candidates focus on large, competitive (“swing”) states while ignoring other states
Discourages third parties
Candidate may win presidency but lose popular votes
1824, 1876, 1888, 2000

12. Other Downsides to the System
4. Possibility of “faithless electors”
5. Voter Turnout – wasted vote in safe states
6. Votes of all citizens do not count equally
NOT “one person one vote”
Modest boost to smaller states: “Overrepresented”
1 WY Elector = 165,101 votes; 1 CA Elector = 617,000 votes

13. So Why Do we Have it? It was in the Constitution
Would need a Constitutional Amendment
2. Helps to focus electoral problems
Imagine a nationwide recount
3. Gives legitimacy to the winner
Woodrow Wilson won 41.8% of vote (81.9% EC)
4. Ensures federalism
Candidates must develop diverse and inclusive platforms

14. Which option is best?
Read your choice and annotate. You will need to defend the benefits of your plan, but also be aware of the negatives.
Direct Election
Proportional Plan
District Vote
National Popular Vote

15. Procedure for election discussion
-In your group, read your plan and fill out the corresponding chart
-Share your plan with your group and fill out the rest of the chart
-Debate in your group and come to a consensus on which plan is the best

16. After Listening to your classmates…REVALUATE!
Stand and be counted when the plan you think is best is stated :
Electoral College
Direct Election
Proportional Plan
District Vote
National Popular Vote

17. Write for one minute explaining why you voted for the plan you did.
Reflection
Write for one minute explaining why you voted for the plan you did.

18. Analyzing the Health of our Democracy
What do you know about the 2000 Presidential Election?

19. 2,883,105 votes
50,999,897 votes
50,456,002 votes

20. 537 VOTES

23. Popular Vote in Florida
2,912,790= Bush
2,912,253= Gore

25. A felon list was distributed in Florida and some were wrongly denied
the right to vote b/c of their name

27. Should ex-felons be allowed to vote?
What problems exist in our democracy in regards to political participation (voting & elections)?

28. Questions to Consider…
Assess the health of our democracy through the 2000 Presidential Election
Cite specific problems that may be representative of overall problems that may exist
Identify the biggest problem
Offer suggestions of how to fix the problems
Do not take a political stance (R or D) – rather make a detached observation