ELECTIONSELECTIONS

SENATESENATE

Originally chosen by State Originally chosen by State LegislaturesLegislatures– ProblemProblem

Deadlocked legislaturesDeadlocked legislatures CorruptionCorruption

SENATESENATE

Now elected by popular vote (17th Now elected by popular vote (17th Amendment, 1913)Amendment, 1913)– took 87 yearstook 87 years– referendums earlierreferendums earlier

PRESIDENTPRESIDENT

Beginning of term--20th Amendment Beginning of term--20th Amendment (1933)(1933)

Electoral College compromiseElectoral College compromise

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGE

Number per state--Representatives + 2Number per state--Representatives + 2 AppointmentAppointment

– Originally--State LegislaturesOriginally--State Legislatures– Now--by popular voteNow--by popular vote

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGE

Counting--CongressCounting--Congress– Top vote getter is PresidentTop vote getter is President– #2 is Vice President#2 is Vice President– No majorityNo majority

-House picks-House picks One vote per stateOne vote per state

Rhode Island

Virginia

12th AMENDMENT (1804)12th AMENDMENT (1804)

ProblemsProblems– Adams and Jefferson in 1796Adams and Jefferson in 1796– Jefferson and Burr in 1800Jefferson and Burr in 1800

SolutionSolution– Each elector votes for a Each elector votes for a

President and a Vice PresidentPresident and a Vice President

BALLOT

Bush

Cheney

ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE PROBLEMSPROBLEMS Electoral vs. Popular VoteElectoral vs. Popular Vote

– 1824--Jackson and John Q Adams1824--Jackson and John Q Adams Jackson won popular vote & electoralJackson won popular vote & electoral The “Corrupt Bargain”The “Corrupt Bargain”

ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

– 1876--Tilden and Hayes1876--Tilden and Hayes Tilden won popular voteTilden won popular vote Disputed votes to HayesDisputed votes to Hayes

– 1888--Cleveland and Harrison1888--Cleveland and Harrison Cleveland won popular voteCleveland won popular vote Harrison won electoral voteHarrison won electoral vote

Winner-Take-AllWinner-Take-All

– Close elections become landslidesClose elections become landslides Clinton in 1992Clinton in 1992

– 43% of popular43% of popular– 69% of electoral69% of electoral

– 3rd parties disadvantaged3rd parties disadvantaged Perot in 1992Perot in 1992

– 20% of popular20% of popular– No electoral votesNo electoral votes

Perot20%

Bush37%

Clinton43%

Bush31%

Clinton69%

ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TODAYTODAY

538 electors538 electors– 23rd Amendment gave D.C. 3 electors 23rd Amendment gave D.C. 3 electors

(1960)(1960)– 270 to win270 to win

ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TODAYTODAY

Bush vs. Gore in 2000: FloridaBush vs. Gore in 2000: Florida

Bush vs. Kerry in 2004: OhioBush vs. Kerry in 2004: Ohio

PopularPopular ElectoralElectoral

BushBush 50,456,06250,456,062 275275

GoreGore 50,996,58250,996,582 263263

NaderNader 2,858,8432,858,843 00

ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TODAYTODAY

Why not abolish electoral college?Why not abolish electoral college?

Voting Procedure ReformsVoting Procedure Reforms

Hanging chadsHanging chads Touch screen voting machinesTouch screen voting machines