What happened on 11/11/18

at 11:00 a.m.?

Why do we use the Electoral College to select our President?

The Electoral CollegeElectors = a state’s Representatives +

Senators in Congress

The candidate that wins the state, wins all the electoral votes (except Nebraska and Maine)

It takes 270 electoral votes to become President

If no candidate does, the House chooses.

Electors do not have to vote the way their state did, but they always have.

Electoral College: Problems and Solutions

• One man One vote

• Winner-take-all – Doesn’t reward candidates for winning some votes

• Win 11 states, could equal victory.

• Popular vote winner could lose the election as President Bush did in 2000.

• Electors can vote as they wish.

• If no candidate get 270 votes, the House decides. Each state gets one vote. Big States = Small States

Electoral College SolutionsMost would require a Constitutional amendment

2012 Results

• Abolish it and use popular vote.• Congressional District Plan – win the congressional district

get the vote, 2 at-large per state to represent Senate seats.• Maine and Nebraska already use this.

• The Proportional Plan – divide electoral vote according to popular vote %.

• Law requiring electors to vote with their states – several states have passed these, may be unconstitutional

• National Bonus Plan – award 102 electoral votes to the winner of nation wide popular vote, raise the total needed to 321.

Who would have won in 2012 if the solutions were used?

• Popular Vote =

• District Plan =

• Proportional Plan =

• National Bonus Plan =

Proportional Plan in action

Obama wins 67% in Illinois, McCain wins 33%.

Obama wins 57% in California, McCain wins 43%.

Obama wins 25% in Florida, McCain wins 75%

Obama wins 33% in Ohio, McCain wins 67%.

Obama wins 78% in Michigan, McCain wins 22%.

Calculate the resulting Electoral Count under the Proportional Plan.