Electoral college

Question 1

The president is not elected by popular vote but instead through….

Answer 1

the electoral college

Question 2

How many electoral college votes are there?

Answer 2

538

Question 3

How does the electoral college work?

Answer 3

• Each state is awarded a certain number of electoral college votes
• The number is equal to that state’s representation in congress i.e. the number of senators (two) + the number of representatives - Wyoming has 3 ECV’s (2+1), California has 55 (2+53)

Question 4

How many ECV’s does a candidate need to win the presidency?

Answer 4

An absolute majority of 270

Question 5

What is the ‘winner take all’ rule?

Answer 5

The winner of the popular vote in a state wins all that state’s ECV’s - not in the constitution only state law

Question 6

Which two states do not use the ‘winner take all’ rule?

Answer 6

Maine & Nebraska

Question 7

Do the members of the electoral college ever meet?

Answer 7

The members of the electoral college never meet together

Question 8

What did the Supreme Court rule in 2020 regarding ‘faithless electors’?

Answer 8

The SC declared that states could require Electors to vote for the state’s popular vote winner

Question 9

Who formally counts and announces ECV’s in congress?

Answer 9

The Vice President

Question 10

What are strengths of the electoral college?

Answer 10

• It preserves the voice of the small population states
• It usually promotes a two-horse race with the winner receiving more than 50% of the popular vote

Question 11

What are weaknesses of the electoral college?

Answer 11

• Small popular states are over-represented (tyranny of the minority)
• ‘Winner take all’ rule can distort the result
• Possible for loser of the popular vote to win ECV’s e.g. Clinton won the pop vote (48%) against Trump but lost the election (2016)
• Unfair to national third parties

Question 12

How can the electoral college be reformed?

Answer 12

• Direct election - following the 2000 & 2016 elections calls were made for the president to be elected by the popular vote, multiplicity of candidates
• Congressional district system - currently used in Maine & Nebraska as opposed to winner takes all - one ECV allocated to winner in each congressional district - two ECV’s allocated to state wide winner
• Proportional system - each state would allocate ECV’s in exact proportion to the state’s popular vote (renders electors unnecessary - much fairer to national third parties

Question 13

What would be the problems with replacing the electoral college with a direct election?

Answer 13

• multiplicity of candidates (unlikely that the
  winner would gain 50% of the vote)
• possible need for run off election elongates the process
• could only be brought about by a constitutional amendment (highly unlikely)

Question 14

What would be the problem with replacing the electoral college with a congressional district system?

Answer 14

• can make results even less proportionate e.g. in 2000 Bush would have won 288 ECV’s with just 48% of the pop vote - decreased legitimacy - in 2012 Romney would have won the election on this system with just 47% of the pop vote

Question 15

What would be the problems with replacing the electoral college with a proportional system?

Answer 15

• far more difficult for one candidate to gain a majority (50% or more)
• need for run off elections elongates the process