The President is elected by the Electoral College.

1
The President is elected by the Electoral College.

• They are people from each state who go to the
  State Capitol to cast their ballots for
  President.
• On Monday, following the 2nd Wednesday in
  December
• Those votes are officially counted on January 6.
• 270 out of 538 votes are necessary to win the
  election

2
(No Transcript)
3
The Electoral College

• Electors do not have to vote for the person who
  got the majority of the votes.
• Electors are chosen by popular vote in every
  state.

4
The Election Process

• If a candidate does not get 270 votes
• it goes to the House of Representatives
• must choose from the top three candidates
• each state has one vote
• Majority of 26 necessary
• if one is not chosen by Jan. 20 the new V.P. will
  take over until one is chosen
• If a V.P. is not elected then the Senate decides
  between the top two candidates

5
Flaws in the Process

• The person with the most popular votes may not
  win the Presidency!
• Occurred 4 times
• Jackson v. Adams (Adams won)
• Tilden v. Hayes (Hayes won)
• Harrison v. Cleveland (Harrison won)
• Bush v. Gore (Bush won)

6
Flaws in the Process

• Electors do not have to vote for the candidate
  favored by the popular vote in their state.
• In 1988 one elector voted for Lloyd Bentsen for
  President and Dukakis for V.P.
• Has only occurred nine times

7
Flaws in the Process

• It is possible for the House of Representatives
  to choose a President
• Occurred two times

8
Reform Plans

• Proportional Vote Plan
• District Vote Plan
• Direct Vote Plan

9
Reform PlansProportional Vote Plan

• a candidate who gets 55 of the popular votes in
  that state gets 55 of the electoral votes.
• Would encourage the formation of third parties.
• Can still lose the popular vote but can win the
  election.

10
Reform PlansDistrict Vote Plan

• One elector would be chosen from each
  Congressional district and 2 at-large electors to
  represent the whole state.
• Would tempt state legislators to gerrymander
  districts.

11
Reform PlansDirect Vote

• President would be elected by Direct Vote.
• Its simple, easy the President would have the
  most popular votes.
• If there is more than two parties running there
  may not be a candidate with a majority.