What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College was established by the U.S. Congress in 1789. Why? The founding fathers did not like the idea of a popular election. They were concerned that presidents would always come from states with high populations. They also wondered if the public would have the knowledge necessary to make a wise choice. Obviously, they did not have 24-hour news services as we do today! The Electoral College is not a “college” at all but “electors” chosen from each state. The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States. How the Electoral College Works The people in each state vote for the president. The results in a state determine which electors are selected for that state. All the electoral votes for that state go for the candidate that gets the most votes in that state. The electoral votes for all 50 states are added and the candidate with the majority of the votes wins! How Many Electoral Votes Does Each State Get? Remember, the number of electors from each state is based on the state’s representation in Congress. For example, the most populous state, California, has 55 electors. The least populous states—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming—have three electors each. The map below shows how many electoral votes each state has. How Many Electoral Votes Are Required to Win? There are a total of 538 electoral votes. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes—at least 270 votes. How do we arrive at 538 electoral votes? 100 senators 435 representatives in the House 3 electors for Washington, D.C. = 538 electoral votes What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is not a “college” at all but “electors” chosen from each state. The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.
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What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College was established by the U.S. Congress in 1789. Why? The founding fathers did not like the idea of a.
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What is the Electoral College?The Electoral College was established by the U.S. Congress in 1789. Why? The founding fathers did not like the idea of a popular election. They were concerned that presidents would always come from states with high populations. They also wondered if the public would have the knowledge necessary to make a wise choice. Obviously, they did not have 24-hour news services as we do today!The Electoral College is not a “college” at all but “electors” chosen from each state. The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.How the Electoral College WorksThe people in each state vote for the president. The results in a state determine which electors are selected for that state. All the electoral votes for that state go for the candidate that gets the most votes in that state.The electoral votes for all 50 states are added and the candidate with the majority of the votes wins!How Many Electoral Votes Does Each State Get?Remember, the number of electors from each state is based on the state’s representation in Congress. For example, the most populous state, California, has 55 electors. The least populous states—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming—have three electors each.The map below shows how many electoral votes each state has.How Many Electoral Votes Are Required to Win?There are a total of 538 electoral votes. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes—at least 270 votes.How do we arrive at 538 electoral votes?
100 senators 435 representatives in the House 3 electors for Washington, D.C. = 538 electoral votes
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is not a “college” at all but “electors” chosen from each state.
The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.
The results of the popular vote in a state determine which electors are selected for that state. (Democratic or Republican)
All the electoral votes for that state go for the candidate that gets the most votes in that state.
The electoral votes for all 50 states are added and the candidate with the majority of the votes wins!
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win
How Many Electoral Votes Are Required to Win?
There are a total of 538 electoral votes.
To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes - at least 270 votes.
Why are there 538 electoral votes?
100 senators ( 2 per state) 435 representatives in the House (based on population per state) 3 electors for Washington, D.C. 538 electoral votes
The Electoral College system is “winner take all.”
The candidate with the most popular votes gets ALL of the electoral votes
Except in Maine and Nebraska where the electoral votes can be divided
Counting the Votes
The electors then meet in the State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent
The Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December
Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in Washington D.C.
The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6th in front of the Congress
What if no one wins or there is a tie?
If no Presidential candidate gets 270 electoral votes, the US House of Representatives takes a vote to determine the winner
This happened in 1800 and 1824
In 1824 presidential election of, John Quincy Adams was elected President on February 9, 1825, after the election was decided by the House of Representatives