The document provides information about how the US presidential election process works through the electoral college system. It explains that citizens vote for presidential candidates in their state, though the candidate who wins the national popular vote may not win the presidency if they do not receive a majority of electoral votes, which are allotted to states based on their representation in Congress. It also notes that a few states in history have seen the candidate lose the national popular vote but win the electoral college vote and hence the presidency.
Popular Vote vs Electoral College: How the US Elects its President
1. Communication was
slow and education
was poor during the Has a candidate ever
late 18th Century . LOST the Popular
vote but won the
Electoral College?
Yes-
Bush, Hayes,
Harrison
POPULAR VOTE
HOW DO WE ELECT THE
PRESIDENT?
In November of a Presidential
HOW DOES THE ELECTORAL
The ELECTORAL COLLEGE is a group of
________________year each state holds
an election in which all eligible citizens
Pellentesque
COLLEGE ELECT THE
may ________. PRESIDENT?
people who act as a unit to ___________
Citizens vote for a “ticket” which includes
the President (POTUS) & Vice President “WINNER TAKES ALL”
___________________for president and
(VPOTUS). vice president. Most states award the winner of the
POPULAR VOTE ALL of that state’s
The Framers of the Constitution devised ELECTORAL VOTE _______________________ votes
Maine and Nebraska divide electoral
this INDIRECT system to prevent the
According to the Constitution, the votes by district.
general public from electing someone
who would be unsuitable as presidency is awarded to the candidate
with the most electoral ___________, not
_____________________. They hoped HOW DOES A
the most popular votes.
the ELECTORAL _______________ would CANDIDATE WIN?
result in educated, informed people HOW DOES IT WORK?
choosing our nation’s top leaders. Need majority to win = 270 electoral
# of ELECTORS = # of SENATORS + votes out of 538
But today, each political
_______________ chooses its members members of the HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES *A candidate could win 11 states and
to serve as ELECTORS. lose 39.
For example: NJ has 12 Representatives
and 2 Senators = 14 Electoral Votes
ELECTORS are citizens chosen to be a How is that possible?
member of the Electoral College. Use the Electoral College map to locate
_____________________ DC gets 3 & highlight 11 states that add up to 270
electors even though it has no or more electoral votes.
representation in Congress.