The Presidential The Presidential ElectionElection

The Electoral College systemThe Electoral College system

Features of the Electoral Features of the Electoral College SystemCollege System

It is FEDERAL – it gives power to the states.It is FEDERAL – it gives power to the states.

Whoever wins the Presidency has to win 270 of the 538 Whoever wins the Presidency has to win 270 of the 538 Electoral College (EC) votes e.g. in 2000 Bush beat Al Gore Electoral College (EC) votes e.g. in 2000 Bush beat Al Gore by 271 to 266.by 271 to 266.

Voters cast their vote for President in their own state on Voters cast their vote for President in their own state on Election Day, the Tuesday after the first Monday in Election Day, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.November.

Voters actually vote for delegates, known as Electors. Each Voters actually vote for delegates, known as Electors. Each state has as many Electors as it has congressmen e.g. state has as many Electors as it has congressmen e.g. California has 54 and Rhode Island has 3.California has 54 and Rhode Island has 3.

In most states it is a system of simple majority i.e. the In most states it is a system of simple majority i.e. the winner in each state usually takes all the votes - with the winner in each state usually takes all the votes - with the exception of Maine and Nebraska who have a proportional exception of Maine and Nebraska who have a proportional resultresult

IT IS AN INDIRECT ELECTIONIT IS AN INDIRECT ELECTION

The aim is to keep the choice of President The aim is to keep the choice of President awayaway from the masses from the masses by spreading it evenly across the states. by spreading it evenly across the states.

Electors are on a slate – ‘group candidacy’, each ballot party Electors are on a slate – ‘group candidacy’, each ballot party having a grouphaving a group

Electors actually take their official vote on behalf of their states Electors actually take their official vote on behalf of their states on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This is on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This is when the result is confirmed. The EC never actually meet. They when the result is confirmed. The EC never actually meet. They cast their votes cast their votes in their own states,in their own states, meeting only for 2 hours meeting only for 2 hours every 4 years!every 4 years!

Why did the Founding Fathers come up Why did the Founding Fathers come up with this system ? with this system ?

It was a It was a compromise compromise to those who wanted the to those who wanted the state legislatures to chose the President and state legislatures to chose the President and those who felt power should rest with the massesthose who felt power should rest with the masses

A national election in those days was A national election in those days was impracticalimpractical and would have produced an and would have produced an inaccurate result. Small numbers of elected inaccurate result. Small numbers of elected persons in each state should do the job for the persons in each state should do the job for the masses as they were better informedmasses as they were better informed

Arguably each Arguably each state had different rulesstate had different rules about about franchise and this was unlikely to be reconciledfranchise and this was unlikely to be reconciled

This is one of the few incidences of institutionally This is one of the few incidences of institutionally protected protected states rightsstates rights and for this reason the and for this reason the EC is still strongly supportedEC is still strongly supported

Faithless Electors – it does Faithless Electors – it does happenhappen

Only 22 states actually bind their Electors, although Only 22 states actually bind their Electors, although there is often no penalty and there are no records of there is often no penalty and there are no records of prosecutionprosecution

Congress can declare faithless electoral votes void if Congress can declare faithless electoral votes void if both houses agree that there has been an irregularityboth houses agree that there has been an irregularity

There have been 9 such cases in history – in both There have been 9 such cases in history – in both 2000 and 2004. In 2000, one of the Democratic DC 2000 and 2004. In 2000, one of the Democratic DC votes was blank when it should have been Al Gore, votes was blank when it should have been Al Gore, she gave the reason as one of protest against DC’s she gave the reason as one of protest against DC’s lack of representation in Congress. In 2004, again a lack of representation in Congress. In 2004, again a Democratic Elector wrote John Edwards, who was the Democratic Elector wrote John Edwards, who was the running mate, not the Presidential candidate. It may running mate, not the Presidential candidate. It may have been a mistake, as a secret ballot we will never have been a mistake, as a secret ballot we will never know.know.

Further PointsFurther Points

The simple majority system is not binding, it has The simple majority system is not binding, it has simply become a conventionsimply become a convention

The period between the two election stages is used The period between the two election stages is used for recounts, challenges and controversies.for recounts, challenges and controversies.

The ballot paper - Electors names may appear on a The ballot paper - Electors names may appear on a party slate under the name of the Presidential and party slate under the name of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate, but in 42 states and in Vice Presidential candidate, but in 42 states and in DC the Presidential Short Ballot is used which is DC the Presidential Short Ballot is used which is less confusing, although it is still the same systemless confusing, although it is still the same system

Electors are chosen by the national and state Electors are chosen by the national and state parties for a variety of reasons and in a variety of parties for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. ways.

The 2000 Election, what conclusions can be The 2000 Election, what conclusions can be drawn about the system?drawn about the system?

It is discriminating against minor party candidates who It is discriminating against minor party candidates who may have widespread support but not win in any state may have widespread support but not win in any state against the huge weight of the two main party machines against the huge weight of the two main party machines e.g. Ross Perot won 16% of the pop. vote but no EC votes e.g. Ross Perot won 16% of the pop. vote but no EC votes in 1992. On the other hand, George Wallace did gain EC in 1992. On the other hand, George Wallace did gain EC votes in southern regions in 1968.votes in southern regions in 1968.

The Al Gore v Bush story, first time in 100 yearsThe Al Gore v Bush story, first time in 100 years

The simple plurality system is not democratic as it can The simple plurality system is not democratic as it can come to just 1 vote on many levels.come to just 1 vote on many levels.

On the other hand, the closeness of the 2000 election did On the other hand, the closeness of the 2000 election did show that the minor party candidates played a significant show that the minor party candidates played a significant role in terms of free and fair competition, as every vote role in terms of free and fair competition, as every vote countedcounted

…….. continued.. continued The simple plurality system avoids a dead heat. The The simple plurality system avoids a dead heat. The

closeness is more a result of parity between parties. closeness is more a result of parity between parties. However if there was a dead heat it would be Congress However if there was a dead heat it would be Congress who decide and that would go against the principle of who decide and that would go against the principle of separation of powers and if for example it were a third separation of powers and if for example it were a third party candidate the decision would be purely partisan and party candidate the decision would be purely partisan and they would have no chance.they would have no chance.

It is a very tactical system – the Presidency can be secured It is a very tactical system – the Presidency can be secured by winning the 11 largest states. Marginal states can also by winning the 11 largest states. Marginal states can also attract all the attention e.g. Florida, Illinois, Washington attract all the attention e.g. Florida, Illinois, Washington and Wisconsin received the majority of the $68 mill and Wisconsin received the majority of the $68 mill available to each of the candidates from federal funds in available to each of the candidates from federal funds in 2000.2000.

The System distorts the size of the win e.g. JFK won The System distorts the size of the win e.g. JFK won 200,00 more votes than Nixon but 100 more EC votes!200,00 more votes than Nixon but 100 more EC votes!

What do we think of What do we think of arguments in favour of the arguments in favour of the

Electoral College?Electoral College? The election does not have to be that close for the The election does not have to be that close for the

winner of the popular vote to lose the pop vote and winner of the popular vote to lose the pop vote and vice versa. In 2004, even with a good majority of vice versa. In 2004, even with a good majority of the popular vote – 52%, G Bush, could have lost to the popular vote – 52%, G Bush, could have lost to John Kerry if just 60,000 votes in Ohio had gone John Kerry if just 60,000 votes in Ohio had gone the other way.the other way.

The population centre is shifting towards the The population centre is shifting towards the southern and western states would traditionally southern and western states would traditionally favour the Republicans. At the same time the favour the Republicans. At the same time the population growth in the south would be in part population growth in the south would be in part down to the growth in the Latino population, and down to the growth in the Latino population, and even though they would lean toward Democrat, even though they would lean toward Democrat, many are unregistered or are not citizensmany are unregistered or are not citizens

Possible ReformsPossible Reforms It is no longer necessary for the Presidency to be separated from It is no longer necessary for the Presidency to be separated from

the peoplethe people

A nationwide vote is now entirely possible but recounts would be A nationwide vote is now entirely possible but recounts would be complicatedcomplicated

A constitutional amendment would be required but as the EC gives A constitutional amendment would be required but as the EC gives small states a small moment in the spotlight, they are unlikely to small states a small moment in the spotlight, they are unlikely to give support to change even if there was a political will for it at give support to change even if there was a political will for it at national level, which there is not.national level, which there is not.

……………………………… The magnitude of victory further endorses the The magnitude of victory further endorses the

winner and in terms of OUTPUT this is goodwinner and in terms of OUTPUT this is good

Reform would be more desirable at local level Reform would be more desirable at local level e.g the simple plurality system could be changed e.g the simple plurality system could be changed without an amendment to the constitution. It s without an amendment to the constitution. It s already in Maine and Nebraska. Also many of already in Maine and Nebraska. Also many of the voting machines are over 50 years old as the the voting machines are over 50 years old as the Florida recount revealed. $3.5billion has Florida recount revealed. $3.5billion has already been pledged from Congress to address already been pledged from Congress to address this.this.

Independent overseers could be employed.Independent overseers could be employed.

ELECTIONS HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE FAIR AND ELECTIONS HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE FAIR AND DEMOCRATICDEMOCRATIC

……..and one more thing..and one more thing When judging the relevance and effectiveness of the When judging the relevance and effectiveness of the

Electoral College system it is important to consider Electoral College system it is important to consider it in the opposite light to the viewpoint most it in the opposite light to the viewpoint most commonly held by its critics. commonly held by its critics.

Critics usually view elections in terms if INPUT , Critics usually view elections in terms if INPUT , who votes, how they vote, equality of votes etc. The who votes, how they vote, equality of votes etc. The Founding Fathers however thought it at least as Founding Fathers however thought it at least as important to consider the OUTPUT, what kind of important to consider the OUTPUT, what kind of men does it produce, how will it affect the working men does it produce, how will it affect the working of the political system, what is its bearing on the of the political system, what is its bearing on the political character of the whole country?political character of the whole country?

You should consider both these aspects – and ask You should consider both these aspects – and ask yourself if successful OUTPUT is enough to make it yourself if successful OUTPUT is enough to make it legitimate.legitimate.