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Electoral college

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Todd Whitten
Todd Whitten

The Electoral College system has each state assign electors who pledge to vote for the candidate who wins the state's popular vote. Voters cast ballots for their state's electors rather than the candidates directly. This system was devised by the founders to avoid having Congress decide the president and to ease vote counting in an era before widespread long-distance communication. A state's number of electors equals its number of senators plus representatives. While a candidate can win the national popular vote but lose the electoral vote, this has only happened a few times. There is ongoing debate around keeping or replacing the current Electoral College system.

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Electoral College (psst...its not really a college)
What is the Electoral College thang? Each state party (D) or (R) chooses a group of people (electors) who have pledged their votes to that partys presidential candidate. When you (the voter) casts your vote, it goes to the electors, NOT the candidates In essence...we vote for our group of electors, then they go vote for the candidate.
So, now, why do we do that?? Devised by the founders to resolve 2 concerns: o To avoid the parliamentary model (that is, so the majority party in Congress doesnt get to decide who becomes President) o To ease the process of counting each popular vote. Back in time, travelling to a polling center was not feasible. And it would take forever to get ballots around the country.
How many electors per state? Each state gets as many electors as senators (2) plus the number of representatives (depends on population). So, for example o MA has 2 senators + 9 representatives=11 electoral votes (as of 2012 election) o Sorry, VT...you only get 3
Electoral college
What does all this math mean? A president could win the popular vote, but lose the electoral vote and STILL LOSE the presidency (#algore2000) IF the electoral votes are split, the H of Reps casts one vote per state for President, and the senate determines the VP And even more IF the H of R is tied, the President of the Senate (the VP) decides.
Interesting Tidbit... -Only half of the states legally require their electors to vote for their assigned candidate, which means -Electors are allowed to change their minds regarding who they vote for. -But, this has only happened 5 times in the last 30 years.
Controversy... Arguments for keeping it this way: the way we have always voted equals out the number of urban to rural votes Arguments against: its an outdated system why shouldnt every vote count?

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Electoral college

  • 2. What is the Electoral College thang? Each state party (D) or (R) chooses a group of people (electors) who have pledged their votes to that partys presidential candidate. When you (the voter) casts your vote, it goes to the electors, NOT the candidates In essence...we vote for our group of electors, then they go vote for the candidate.
  • 3. So, now, why do we do that?? Devised by the founders to resolve 2 concerns: o To avoid the parliamentary model (that is, so the majority party in Congress doesnt get to decide who becomes President) o To ease the process of counting each popular vote. Back in time, travelling to a polling center was not feasible. And it would take forever to get ballots around the country.
  • 4. How many electors per state? Each state gets as many electors as senators (2) plus the number of representatives (depends on population). So, for example o MA has 2 senators + 9 representatives=11 electoral votes (as of 2012 election) o Sorry, VT...you only get 3
  • 6. What does all this math mean? A president could win the popular vote, but lose the electoral vote and STILL LOSE the presidency (#algore2000) IF the electoral votes are split, the H of Reps casts one vote per state for President, and the senate determines the VP And even more IF the H of R is tied, the President of the Senate (the VP) decides.
  • 7. Interesting Tidbit... -Only half of the states legally require their electors to vote for their assigned candidate, which means -Electors are allowed to change their minds regarding who they vote for. -But, this has only happened 5 times in the last 30 years.
  • 8. Controversy... Arguments for keeping it this way: the way we have always voted equals out the number of urban to rural votes Arguments against: its an outdated system why shouldnt every vote count?

Editor's Notes

  • #3: All the states but 2 use winner take all--win the states popular vote and get all the electors. The exceptions are Nebraska and Maine, who use a proportional system to split up their votes.
  • #7: Also in 1824 (John Q. Adams), 1876 (Rutherford B. Hayes) and 1888 (Benjamin Harrison)
  • #8: Electors who switch their votes are called Faithless Electors and dont get invited to many parties...