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The Electoral College

The Electoral College. Does it work properly or should we fix it?. The Founders on presidential election. Some wanted Congress to elect the POTUS Some wanted direct election of the POTUS Problems… Inordinate weight to large states Popularity contest Illiterate population

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The Electoral College

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  1. The Electoral College Does it work properly or should we fix it?

  2. The Founders on presidential election Some wanted Congress to elect the POTUS Some wanted direct election of the POTUS Problems… • Inordinate weight to large states • Popularity contest • Illiterate population • Poor communication

  3. Compromise: The Electoral College The Electoral College was introduced by Alexander Hamilton as a compromise between having Congress choose the POTUS and direct election by popular vote of the electorate.

  4. Compromise: The Electoral College Contrary to popular belief… the rendering of the College IS generally consistent with the popular voter (even if the winner of the popular vote loses the election).

  5. The Electoral College: Formula • 538 members (435 H of R + 100 Senators + 3 for D.C.) • # of state’s reps + 2 senators= state’s electoral votes • The number of each state’s electoral vote can change every decade based on census results. • Favors smaller states because everyone regardless of how small gets at least 3 electors. • 23rd amendment allowed D.C. residents to vote in POTUS elections

  6. The Electoral College: Membership Virginia’s 2008 Electors Christia V. Rey of Williamsburg Sandra W. Brandt of Virginia Beach Betty L. Squire of Richmond Susan Johnston Rowland of Chesapeake Marc L. Finney of Lawrenceville Dorothy S. Blackwell of Lexington James Harold Allen Boyd of Culpeper Marian A. Van Landingham of Alexandria Robert Edgar Childress, Jr. of Rosedale Rolland D. Winter of Leesburg Janet A. Carver of Springfield Michael Jon Khandelwal of Norfolk Sophie Ann Salley of Richmond Members are generally nominated at state conventions.

  7. The Electoral College: Election Day • Election day is ALWAYS the first Tuesday, following the first Monday in November. • We actually vote for a slate of electors and not the actual presidential candidate • The slate of electors for the presidential ticket that gets the most votes is appointed

  8. The Electoral College: What do they do? • The electors meet on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. • Electors vote by ballot, on for POTUS & one for VP. • No federal laws requiring electors to vote according to their state’s popular votes, but some state laws do (Virginia’s does not).

  9. The Electoral College: Then what? • Electoral votes are sealed and sent to the President of the Senate. • Votes are tallied at a joint session of Congress held in the House of Representatives. • A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect a POTUS. • If there’s a tie, the House of Representatives decides.

  10. The Electoral College: Defects • Because electoral votes aren’t distributed in exact proportion to the population, winner of popular vote may not win electoral vote. • Electors not bound by the Constitution or any federal law to vote for the candidate favored by their state aka “faithless electors” • Elections may be thrown to the House of Reps where voting is state by state.

  11. The Electoral College: Proposed Reform District Plan: • each candidate would get one electoral vote for each congressional district the he/she wins in • state’s overall popular vote winner would get two bonus votes (one for each senator of that state) • Wouldn’t require a constitutional amendment because Constitution lets states choose how they select their electors. • Nebraska and Maine use this system

  12. The Electoral College: Proposed Reform Proportional Plan: • Give each candidate the share of the electoral vote that he/she earned in the popular vote. Direct Popular Election: • Abolish the Electoral College • Each citizen’s vote counts equally toward the presidential election

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