understanding the electoral college. the district of columbia (washington d.c.) receives three...
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding the Electoral College
The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) receives three electoral votes, as determined by
the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.
majority rule = half + one
538 ) 2 = 269 + 1 = 270
270
What does it take to win?
ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS
MINIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTORS FOR ANY STATE
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELECTORS
ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS
THE SEVEN SMALLEST
THE SEVEN SMALLEST
THE SEVEN SMALLEST
7 smallest states
ELECTORAL MAP AFTER 2000 CENSUS
THE SEVEN BIGGEST
THE SEVEN BIGGEST
7 biggest states= 55
= 34
= 31
= 27
= 21
= 21
= 20
WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?
WHAT OTHER STATES WILL HELP?
4 more states
= 17
= 15
= 15
= 15
How does it work?
Each state’s block of electors assembles in their respective state capitol on the first Monday after the
second Wednesday in December. At this meeting, the electors sign the
Certificate of Vote, which is sealed and delivered to the Office of the President
of the United States Senate.
A special joint session of the U.S. Congress convenes in early January. At this meeting, the
President of the Senate reads the Certificates of Votes and declares
the official winner.
If no presidential candidate receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the president
is chosen by the House of Representatives from among the
three leading candidates.
If no candidate receives a majority of votes for vice president, that official is chosen by the Senate. The choice is made from among
the two candidates with the highest number of electoral votes.
Congress has had to choose the president only twice—in 1800 and 1824—and the vice president only
once—in 1836.
vsvs..Jefferson
J. Adams
Jackson
J.Q. Adams
vsvs..
electors didn’t distinguish whichcandidate they wanted for president and which they wanted for vice president -
corrected by 12th Amendment
too many presidential candidates split the vote making it
impossible for any one of themto achieve a majority vote in
the electoral college
RESULTS OF 2000 ELECTION
electoral college vote in December doesn’t match popular vote in November
RESULTS OF 2008 ELECTION
69,456,897 59,934,814
52.9% 45.7%
