WHAT IS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE?

QUICK REVIEW

What is the main difference between most elections and presidential elections?

Who created the electoral college and why?How many electoral votes does it take to win the Presidency?How is the number of electoral votes a state has determined?How might the number of electoral votes a state has impact

campaigns?

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Objective: To analyze the Electoral College, as well as proposed alternatives, and consider which is the most effective and efficient way to elect our nation’s leader.

Essential Skill: Examine information from more than one point of view, assess the information, and draw conclusions (C4 & C8)

January June August NovemberPrimaries start …and end DNC/RNC The General Election

Elections in 50 states that

award delegates to

the convention

Elections in 50 states that award electoral votes in

the electoral college

First Caucus?First Primary?

More Primaries or Caucuses?

Democratic Primary Results 2008Purple denotes an Obama win and gold a Clinton win

Candidates “win” a state by passing their opponent in total votes in that state’s presidential primary or caucus – Yet every candidate gets some “delegates” depending on how much of that popular vote they received. The candidate

with the most delegates will win the nomination at the national party convention in August

Jan.3, 2008Iowa caucuses

June 3, 2008Montana primary

TOTAL DELEGATES IN THE NATION: 4,223

The Idea Behind the Electoral College

The Founders sought to protect the Presidential election from manipulation, to preserve states’ rights and to put a check on the people’s choice for President… …they created a two-step presidential election process so that the President is not directly elected by the people.

The Process of the Electoral College

Pennsylvania

Jane 6,317,640

Bob 5,751,398

Lucy 388,350

All of Pennsylvania’s 20 Electoral Votes are awarded to Candidate Jane...

EACH STATE’S # OF ELECTORALVOTES IS DIFFERENT BASED ON ITS POPULATION COMPARED TO ALL OTHER STATES

18 House members

+ 2 Senators = 20

How to Win the Presidency

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Jane Bob Lucy

Electoral Votes

The Winner is…..

THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST ELECTORAL VOTES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY

TOTAL POSSIBLE ELECTORAL VOTES = 538

100 members of US Senate

435 members of US House of Representatives

3 for the District of Columbia (Wash D.C.)

REVIEW: The Idea Behind the Electoral College

The Founders sought to protect the Presidential election from manipulation, to preserve states’ rights and to put a check on the people’s choice for President…

…they created a two-step presidential election process so that the President is not directly elected by the people.

PEOPLE VOTE STATE BY STATE

ELECTORS CAST FINAL BALLOT

1. CITIZENS VOTE FOR PARTY-BASED ELECTORS IN HOME STATE

2. ELECTORS FOR WINNING PARTY CAST BALLOTS FOR CANDIDATE

2012 Electoral College Results in the Presidential Election

Due to “Winner Takes All”….

1.Candidates focus on large, competitive (“swing”) states while ignoring other states

2.Discourages third parties

3.Candidate may win presidency but lose popular votes1824, 1876, 1888, 2000

Possible Downsides to the Electoral College

OTHER DOWNSIDES TO THE SYSTEM

4. Possibility of “faithless electors”

5. Voter Turnout – wasted vote in safe states

6. Votes of all citizens do not count equallyNOT “one person one vote”Modest boost to smaller states: “Overrepresented”1 WY Elector = 165,101 votes; 1 CA Elector = 617,000 votes

SO WHY DO WE HAVE IT?

1. It was in the Constitution

Would need a Constitutional Amendment

2. Helps to focus electoral problems

Imagine a nationwide recount

3. Gives legitimacy to the winner

Woodrow Wilson won 41.8% of vote (81.9% EC)

4. Ensures federalism

Candidates must develop diverse and inclusive platforms

WHICH OPTION IS BEST?

Read your choice and annotate. You will need to defend the benefits of your plan, but also be aware of the negatives.

Direct Election Proportional Plan District Vote National Popular Vote

Procedure for election discussion

-In your group, read your plan and fill out the corresponding chart

-Share your plan with your group and fill out the rest of the chart

-Debate in your group and come to a consensus on which plan is the best

AFTER LISTENING TO YOUR CLASSMATES…REVALUATE!Stand and be counted when the plan you think is best is

stated :

Electoral College Direct Election Proportional Plan District Vote National Popular Vote

REFLECTION

Write for one minute explaining why you voted for the plan you did.

ANALYZING THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY

What do you know about the 2000 Presidential Election?

50,999,897 votes 50,456,002 votes

2,883,105 votes

537 VOTES

Popular Vote in Florida

2,912,790= Bush

2,912,253= Gore

A felon list was distributed in Floridaand some were wrongly denied the right to vote b/c of their name

Should ex-felons be allowed to vote?

What problems exist in our democracy in regards to political participation (voting & elections)?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER…

Assess the health of our democracy through the 2000 Presidential Election

Cite specific problems that may be representative of overall problems that may exist Identify the biggest problem

Offer suggestions of how to fix the problems

Do not take a political stance (R or D) – rather make a detached observation