The Electoral College
A magnificent anachronism
Clearly Communicated
Learning Objectives

Discuss the Electoral College and the
strategy of presidential campaigns
Why all The Anger- The 2000
Election of Course

The Media called the election too soon

The Supreme Court intervened

The Popular vote winner did not win
the Presidency
A brief period of anger

HRC says her first act as Senator
would be to reform it

And O.J. said he would spend all of his
time trying to find the real killer

Institutional reform trumps anger
2004 a Close Call

Ohio was very close

A small Number of People could have
swung the election

http://uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/GENERAL/pe2004whatif.html
Obama Saves the electoral
college!
But problems remain
Problems of the Electoral
College

Faithless electors


http://archive.fairvote.org/e_college/faithless.htm
Problem of the Unit Rule
Problems of the Electoral
College

Potential for Gridlock

Over-representation of small states

Minor parties are always hurt,
everywhere, all the time
Problems of the Electoral
College

Potential for Minority-Vote winner
(2000, 1996, 1992, 1968, 1960)

Potential for a wrong winner
Attempts at Reform
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/wyscptdhjq--Dune-Sian-Phillips-The-Reverend-Mother-Gaius-Helen-Mohiam-KyleMacLachlan-Tried-And-Failed-Tried-and-Died
Attempts at Reform

1950

1969

1979
Some States have made changes

Article II, Section I allows the states to
decide how they choose their electors

Maine and Nebraska use a different
method (Congressional District Winner
+ overall winner)
Potential Reforms!




The Proportional Plan
The District Plan
The Direct Plan
State Compact-National Popular Vote
The Proportional Plan

This plan divides Electoral votes based on
the popular vote totals from each state.

Advantages
The District Plan

A state’s Electoral Vote is equal to the
number of Senators (2) plus the number of
Representatives which varies by state.

Advantages
The Direct Plan

The other plans keep the Electoral College
intact, this plan deems the NATIONWIDE
popular vote winner as the president.

Advantages
DIFFERENT ELECTIONS
UNDER EACH SCENARIO
The Election of 1960
Winner
Kennedy
Nixon
Other
303
219
15
264.8
263.5
7.7
Present Plan
Kennedy Wins
Proportional Plan
No Winner
District Plan
Nixon Wins
245
278
14
Direct Plan
Nixon Wins
49.46
49.54
0.001
The Election of 1968
Winner
Nixon
Humphrey
Wallace
Present Plan
Nixon Wins
301
191
46
Proportional Plan
No Winner
231.5
225.4
78.8
District Plan
Nixon Wins
289
192
57
Direct Plan
Nixon Wins
43.4
42.7
13.5
The Election of 1976
Winner
Carter
Ford
Other
Present Plan
Carter Wins
297
240
1
Proportional Plan
No Winner
269.5
258
10.5
District Plan
No Winner
269
269
Direct Plan
Carter Wins
50.1
48
1.9
The Election of 1992
Winner
Clinton
Bush
Perot
Clinton Wins
370
168
0
No Winner
232.1
203.7
102.2
District Plan
Clinton Wins
326
212
Direct Plan
Clinton Wins
43.01
37.45
Present Plan
Proportional Plan
18.91
The Election of 2000
Winner
Bush
Gore
Other
Present Plan
Bush Wins
286
251
1
Proportional Plan
No Winner
260.8
259.9
17.4
District Plan
Bush Wins
288
250
Direct Plan
Gore Wins
47.9
48.4
1
The Election of 2004
Winner
Bush
Kerry
Other
Present Plan
Bush Wins
286
251
1
Proportional Plan
Bush Wins
275
258
4.5
District Plan
Bush Wins
317
221
Direct Plan
Bush Wins
50.7
48.3
1
Disadvantages of Each
The Direct Plan
Under this plan, 2 elections would have
vastly different results
 1960- Nixon defeats Kennedy
 2000- Gore Defeats Bush

Recounts, Runoffs, Fraud
The Proportional Plan
This is the most unsteady
 1960, 1968, 1976,1992, 1996, 2000

Do we want George Wallace to
determine our president?

Colorado failed to Pass and
Amendment on this
The District Plan

This would increase the amount of
Gerrymandering beyond its current
state.

Changes several Elections

No major state has tried it
State Compact

Working its Way through the states

http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/

Electors would be required to vote for
the popular vote winner

The Matter of the Constitution
WILL IT CHANGE?
The Electoral College
Get Used to it

What Is Necessary for Change

Institutional Difficulties
Why No Change?- Some Groups
love it!

The Parties

Small States

Big States

Battleground states
Advantages of the System

A Proven Track Record

Faithless electors are more fun than
anything else

The Evil Best Known is the Most
Tolerable
Advantages of the E.C.

Minority Groups

Presidents

Federalism
The 2008 Election

The Obama victory preserved the
Electoral College

Absolutely no question about
legitimacy
The Fear of Unanticipated
Consequences