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Pros and Cons of the Electoral College

Pros and Cons of the Electoral College. Rules. Each state appoints “Electors” equal to the number of combined seats in the House and Senate Electors meet in own states Electors cast two votes (P and VP) MAJORITY (270 votes) to win

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Pros and Cons of the Electoral College

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  1. Pros and Cons of the Electoral College

  2. Rules • Each state appoints “Electors” equal to the number of combined seats in the House and Senate • Electors meet in own states • Electors cast two votes (P and VP) • MAJORITY (270 votes) to win • If no winner, House of Reps. chooses among top candidates, one vote per state.

  3. Problems with the EC? • Anti-Majoritarian • Popular vote winner can lose presidency • Can have House of Reps, one state per vote, elect president • Can have “Faithless Electors” • Unequal weighting of votes • Voters in small states mathematically overrepresented • Partisan minorities’ votes “don’t count” • Campaign only targets some voters • Turnout is higher in battleground states • But rhetoric is national • But battleground states demographically representative • But no difference in voter efficacy

  4. Positive aspects of EC? • Forces candidates to create broad electoral coalitions • Exaggerates margin of victory, making governing easier • Encourages 2 party system

  5. Consequences for strategy? • Focus on electorally rich (populous) states • Focus on “swing” states

  6. Targeted States, 2004

  7. Targeted States in 2008(Spending in Millions)

  8. Targeted States, 2004

  9. Turnout in targeted states

  10. Simple popular vote: Effects on campaign strategy • Greater cost • Media markets replace states as focus of resource concentration • Favors Republicans?

  11. Media markets

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