Simple way of thinking about it The States Elect the President Check out this video on the electoral college National History Day Reminder let me know if you are interested Basics of the Electoral College ID: 735212
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "The Electoral College What is the Elect..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The Electoral College Slide2
What is the Electoral College
Simple way of thinking about it: The States Elect the President..
Check out this
video on the electoral college National History Day Reminder – let me know if you are interested Slide3
Basics of the Electoral College
Each State is given a certain number of electors based on its population
Number of electors the same as the number of representatives in Congress (# of house representatives + # of senators)
Bigger the State = More electors (Proportional Representation)Example – California electoral votes – 53 representatives + 2
sentators
= 55 total
Example – Alaska electoral votes – 1 representative = 2 senators = 3 total
23
rd
Amendment gave Washington DC 3 electors (same as smallest state
)
538 possible electoral votes currently – 535 in House/Senate plus 3 for Washington DC = 538Slide4
Who are the Electors?
The way electors are chosen can vary by state.. But the Constitution provides for the following rules
Electors may not be current elected/appointed federal officials
Usually are trustworthy people who will vote with the wishes of the state, however no requirement that they have to do so Electors are typically voted on during election day based on the presidential candidate being voted
on (in most states)
Usually electors are preselected from each political party in the summer by state officials, then the electors from the winning party in the state’s popular election will be invited to the capital to officially vote for the state as an elector in December.Slide5
Basics of Electoral College
President needs to receive a majority of the electoral votes to win
Currently 270 votes required to be elected President
(538 possible electoral votes available)In most states the candidate that wins the popular vote receives ALL the electoral votes, only Maine and Nebraska split up electoral votes Electors do NOT have to vote based on state results, but in all but a few cases, have historically voted based on their state’s wishes Slide6
Step 1 – Popular Vote (Nov.)Slide7
Step 2 – (Dec.) Electors from each state vote (based off popular vote
)Slide8
Step 3 – (Dec.) State officially sends its electoral results to CongressSlide9
Step 4 – (Jan) US Congress officially counts the electoral votes for President to determine winner of the election Slide10
Mock Election
Candidate A. – Free Kit-Kats for Everyone!
Candidate B. – Free
Reeses
Peanut Butter Cups for Everyone! Slide11
Mock Election Electoral Votes
State/# of Electoral Votes
Candidate
Winning Election
Popular
Votes
20
16
12
9
5. 6
3
14
Total:
Candidate:
Popular
Winner: