Stellar Posted October 10, 2004 #1 Share Posted October 10, 2004 http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/08/....map/index.html Can someone plz explain to me what the hell electoral colleges are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twpdyp Posted October 10, 2004 #2 Share Posted October 10, 2004 How the Electoral College Works The current workings of the Electoral College are the result of both design and experience. As it now operates: Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives (which may change each decade according to the size of each State's population as determined in the Census). The political parties (or independent candidates) in each State submit to the State's chief election official a list of individuals pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the State's electoral vote. Usually, the major political parties select these individuals either in their State party conventions or through appointment by their State party leaders while third parties and independent candidates merely designate theirs. Members of Congress and employees of the federal government are prohibited from serving as an Elector in order to maintain the balance between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. After their caucuses and primaries, the major parties nominate their candidates for president and vice president in their national conventions traditionally held in the summer preceding the election. (Third parties and independent candidates follow different procedures according to the individual State laws). The names of the duly nominated candidates are then officially submitted to each State's chief election official so that they might appear on the general election ballot. On the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in years divisible by four, the people in each State cast their ballots for the party slate of Electors representing their choice for president and vice president (although as a matter of practice, general election ballots normally say "Electors for" each set of candidates rather than list the individual Electors on each slate). Whichever party slate wins the most popular votes in the State becomes that State's Electors-so that, in effect, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a State wins all the Electors of that State. [The two exceptions to this are Maine and Nebraska where two Electors are chosen by statewide popular vote and the remainder by the popular vote within each Congressional district]. On the Monday following the second Wednesday of December (as established in federal law) each State's Electors meet in their respective State capitals and cast their electoral votes-one for president and one for vice president. In order to prevent Electors from voting only for "favorite sons" of their home State, at least one of their votes must be for a person from outside their State (though this is seldom a problem since the parties have consistently nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates from different States). The electoral votes are then sealed and transmitted from each State to the President of the Senate who, on the following January 6, opens and reads them before both houses of the Congress. The candidate for president with the most electoral votes, provided that it is an absolute majority (one over half of the total), is declared president. Similarly, the vice presidential candidate with the absolute majority of electoral votes is declared vice president. In the event no one obtains an absolute majority of electoral votes for president, the U.S. House of Representatives (as the chamber closest to the people) selects the president from among the top three contenders with each State casting only one vote and an absolute majority of the States being required to elect. Similarly, if no one obtains an absolute majority for vice president, then the U.S. Senate makes the selection from among the top two contenders for that office. At noon on January 20, the duly elected president and vice president are sworn into office. Occasionally questions arise about what would happen if the pesidential or vice presidential candidate died at some point in this process.For answers to these, as well as to a number of other "what if" questions, readers are advised to consult a small volume entitled After the People Vote: Steps in Choosing the President edited by Walter Berns and published in 1983 by the American Enterprise Institute. Similarly, further details on the history and current functioning of the Electoral College are available in the second edition of Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, a real goldmine of information, maps, and statistics. This should explain it for you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 10, 2004 #3 Share Posted October 10, 2004 http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/08/....map/index.html Can someone plz explain to me what the hell electoral colleges are? 299463[/snapback] It is very simple, and yet veru complex. The electoral college is the body that directly elects the President of the U.S. Each state gets a number of electoral college votes equal to the number of representatives they have in the House of Representatives (in Wisconsin we have 8) and the number of Senators (each state has 2). So Wisconsin has a total of 10 votes. Caifornia has 55, Texas has 34, etc... It is essentially population based, plus 2 for Senators, so small states have at least 3 votes. 3 votes are added for the District of Columbia, which added with the 435 congressional seats and 100 senate seats, totals 538. To become President in a 2-way race, you need at least 270 votes (simple majority) Each state awards all of its electoral votes to the candidate in that state who got the most votes. So if Bush looses California, which he will, whether it is by 1 vote or 2 million, Kerry will still get the same 55 electoral votes towards becoming President. Whoever wins Wisconsin will get its 10 votes. Get 270 votes in the electoral college and you are President. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 10, 2004 #4 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Just to add a little bit, so that the understanding of why "battleground" states are so significant, many states lean heavily towards one party. Illinois, California, and New York almost always go to the Democrats, while Texas, Georgia, and a lot of smaller, southern states, traditional go to the Republicans. States Like Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennslyvania, Florida, and Missouri are on the bubble, and could go either way. Each carries a significant number of votes in the electoral college, and each has the potential to swing the election one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twpdyp Posted October 10, 2004 #5 Share Posted October 10, 2004 independent I liked your explaination better than mine, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 10, 2004 #6 Share Posted October 10, 2004 independent I liked your explaination better than mine, thank you 299481[/snapback] Sorry about that though, we were posting explanations at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novo Posted October 10, 2004 #7 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC09 Posted October 10, 2004 #8 Share Posted October 10, 2004 LMAO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twpdyp Posted October 10, 2004 #9 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Independent No Problem on that account Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffybunny Posted October 10, 2004 #10 Share Posted October 10, 2004 How Electoral College works In my opinion the EC is a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 10, 2004 #11 Share Posted October 10, 2004 How Electoral College works In my opinion the EC is a mistake. 299621[/snapback] Mistake or not, it is the system we have. I personally think it makes the election much more interesting than a simple vote tally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twpdyp Posted October 10, 2004 #12 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I agree in principal, but still am bothered by the fact that a candidate can win the popular vote and still loose the election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicohunter Posted October 13, 2004 #13 Share Posted October 13, 2004 (edited) who do you think is going to win the race for u.s. presidentice Edited October 13, 2004 by psicohunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted October 13, 2004 #14 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I have so little respect for either of them I'll go with Talon/Lottie 2004. Couldn't happen because of our nationality, but we all know its the right call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicohunter Posted October 13, 2004 #15 Share Posted October 13, 2004 i think karrys go to win the dabate and win the presidentice i don't know why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celumnaz Posted October 13, 2004 #16 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I think Bush will win the election. I have reasons why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2004 #17 Share Posted October 13, 2004 i think karrys go to win the dabate and win the presidentice i don't know why. 305037[/snapback] Holy crap. What? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicohunter Posted October 13, 2004 #18 Share Posted October 13, 2004 i think karrys go to win the dabate and win the presidentice i don't know why. 305037[/snapback] Holy crap. What? 305070[/snapback] i said i don't know why it an uneplaind mysteries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted October 13, 2004 #19 Share Posted October 13, 2004 It'll be explained come the elections though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing_Dumplings Posted October 13, 2004 #20 Share Posted October 13, 2004 i cant win either talon damned "US born only" rule i dont know who is going to win honestly, but it will be a close race, now to choose...watch the last debate...or the 2nd yankees v. red sox game..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicohunter Posted October 13, 2004 #21 Share Posted October 13, 2004 go red sox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing_Dumplings Posted October 13, 2004 #22 Share Posted October 13, 2004 alll i care about is them not losing on home turf but no pedros going to take sooo much heat tonight...ok illl watch the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicohunter Posted October 14, 2004 #23 Share Posted October 14, 2004 alll i care about is them not losing on home turf but no pedros going to take sooo much heat tonight...ok illl watch the game 305241[/snapback] yha we cant vote so go ahead(you don't need my permision) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 14, 2004 #24 Share Posted October 14, 2004 According to the polls, Bush is ahead in the electoral college, although Kerry is very close.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted October 14, 2004 #25 Share Posted October 14, 2004 I agree in principal, but still am bothered by the fact that a candidate can win the popular vote and still loose the election. 299760[/snapback] Bu think of the alternative. In a close election, the lawyers can quible over the results in one state (electoral method) or all over the country (popular vote method). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now