Electing the President

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Electing the President
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The Electoral College
The President is chosen by a body which never
meets
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Who Elect the President?

• Article II Section 1.
• Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the
  Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of
  Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators
  and Representatives to which the state may be
  entitle in Congress.

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Thus

• Distributed on a Stateswide basis.
• Formula number of Representatives Number of
  Senators (2)
• 3 for Washington District of Columbia
• 538 electorate. (435 Reps, 100 Senators, 3
  District of Columbia).
• Redistributed after each census.

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College votes in descending order

• California 55
• Texas 34
• New York 31
• Florida 27
• Illinois 21
• Penn. 21
• Ohio 20
• Michigan 17
• Georgia 15

• New Jersey 15
• North Carolina 15
• Virginia 13
• Massachusetts 12
• Indiana 11
• Missouri 11
• Tennessee 11
• Washington 11
• Arizona 10

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College votes in descending order

• Connecticut 7
• Iowa 7
• Oklahoma 7
• Oregon 7
• Arkansas 6
• Kansas 6
• Mississippi 6
• Nebraska 5
• Nevada 5

• Maryland 10
• Minnesota 10
• Wisconsin 10
• Alabama 9
• Colorado 9
• Kentucky 8
• Louisiana 9
• Kentucky 8
• South Carolina 8

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College votes in descending order

• Alaska 3
• Delaware 3
• Montana 3
• North Dakota 3
• South Dakota 3
• Vermont 3
• Washington DC 3

• New Mexico 5
• Utah 5
• West Virginia 5
• Hawaii 4
• Idaho 4
• Maine 4
• New Hampshire 4
• Rhode Island 4

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How are the electors nominated?
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Ralph Nader
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Personal Choice Party
CHARLES JAY
MARILYN CHAMBERS TAYLOR
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How are the electors chosen?

• The Voters Select a List
• The Unit Rule
• Exceptions Maine and Nebraska

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How do the electors vote?
Minnesota 2004
Massachusetts 2004
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Faithless Electors

• Electors do not have to vote for who they said
  they were going to vote.

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What if there is a third candidate holding the
balance of power?
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What if there is deadlock when the result reaches
Congress?
Pages Carry in the Results 1948
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Reform?

• Proportional Distribution of the College Votes
• Vote by 435 Representatives in case of deadlock
• Direct Election
• Simple Majority
• Run-off between top two