Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Vestige of the pastVestige of the past

Curse of the present?Curse of the present?

Obstacle to democracy in the Obstacle to democracy in the future?future?

Vestige of the past--Vestige of the past--Historical ContextHistorical Context

Some options they Some options they considered. . .considered. . .

Parliamentary System

State Legislatures Select

Direct democracy

No Please!

Second Attempt spurred by Second Attempt spurred by 1800 Presidential Election1800 Presidential Election

1212thth Amendment Adopted Amendment Adopted 18041804

Electoral College EvolvedElectoral College Evolved

How it worksHow it works

Curse of the present?Curse of the present?

Now swing states real power brokers Now swing states real power brokers and others are largely ignored.and others are largely ignored.

In a typical year, swing states include Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida. 2008 was a bit different due to changing demographics and voter turnout. New swing states included Montana, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Power shifts…Power shifts…

WhatWhat’’s wrong with this s wrong with this picture?picture?

1. Possibility of a 1. Possibility of a electoral college electoral college President but not President but not popular vote popular vote president (1824, president (1824, 1876, 1888, 1876, 1888, 2000)2000)

2.2. "faithless "faithless electors" no electors" no federal law federal law requires electors requires electors to vote the way to vote the way they are they are supposed to. supposed to. Some states have Some states have laws that punish laws that punish faithless faithless electors, but not electors, but not all.all.

States in red have laws that punish faithless electors.

Faithless electors Faithless electors historicallyhistorically

More problems…More problems…

Rocky AndersonJustice Party

Jill SteinGreen Party

Gary JohnsonLibertarian Party

Constitution PartyVirgil Goode