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The Electoral College

The Electoral College. Ms. Hurley Government April 8, 2009. Election Day: 11-06-2012. When Americans go to the polls during a Presidential election year, many believe they are voting directly for the President. In fact, we are NOT directly voting for the President.

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The Electoral College

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  1. The Electoral College Ms. Hurley Government April 8, 2009

  2. Election Day: 11-06-2012 • When Americans go to the polls during a Presidential election year, many believe they are voting directly for the President. • In fact, we are NOT directly voting for the President. • Instead, voters are voting for a group of electorates, who have pledged their electoral vote for the winning candidate at a meeting at their respective states’ capital

  3. What are Electoral votes? • Every state is given Electoral votes. These are the votes that are cast in order to formally elect our President • To determine how many votes each state gets, we just follow this simple equation • Number of Senators + Number of Representatives = Votes! • So, Illinois has 2 Senators + 19 Representatives = 21 E.V

  4. Who is in the Electoral College? • Each party of every state, names electorates, usually at party conventions • The Electorates are party loyalist who have pledged their vote to their party’s candidates.

  5. After November 6, What Happens? • The electorates meet at their state capital and sign a Certificate of Vote • This Certificate is then sent to Washington, where the electoral votes are counted. December 7, 2012 • During this, each state opens their envelope and pledges their electoral vote. • The Vice President fulfills one of his roles, by Presiding over the Senate and directing the reading of the votes

  6. 270 to win! • In order to win the Presidency, the President must win at least 270 electoral votes. • Finally on January 6, 2013. Our President is formally elected.

  7. Origins of the Electoral College • Founders wanted to give less populated states some leverage in choosing the President • Sought to balance State and Federal Power • Did not trust the common voters to make a wise decision • 12th Amendment- changed the way the President and Vice President were chosen.

  8. Problems with the Electoral College • Faithless Electors- An electorate from DC did not cast her electoral vote for Al Gore in 2000 as a form of protest • Winner Take All- Even if the winner of the state vote only wins by a slight margin, they still receive ALL electoral votes • Any election could be determined in the House of Representative- states vote by STATE, not number of Representatives (ALL states have EQUAL Vote)

  9. Historical Significance? • 4 times in History, Presidents who did NOT win the popular vote became President. • Most notably and recently, George W. Bush • 36 days after the election, George W. Bush was finally named President!

  10. Need for Change? • Getting rid of the electoral college would require an Amendment to the Constitution. • However, due to the “flaws” with the electoral college many say an Amendment is necessary. • District Plan • Direct Election • Proportional Plan

  11. District Plan

  12. Proportional Plan

  13. Direct Election

  14. What do you think? • The electoral college is up for debate, in order to change the United States would have to amend the Constitution. Do you support an amendment to the constitution that would change the method of Presidential election?

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