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How the Electoral College Works

By Phyllis Naegeli
Under the Electoral College, voters in a presidential election choose
electors. Each state has electors equal to the number of senators (two
for each state) and representatives (based on population) they have in
Congress. Because representatives (and thereby some electors) are
allotted by population, this is adjusted every ten years when the
government takes a census.
Political parties choose electors. The major parties usually choose
them at conventions. Sometimes party leaders decide who will
perform this job. Once they are chosen, political parties submit the
names of the electors to each state's election office. Most citizens can
become electors; however, those who work for the federal
government or are members of Congress cannot be electors.
The first step in choosing our president is holding primaries and
caucuses. Each political party holds these special elections to choose
delegates to their conventions. The candidate who receives the most
delegates then chooses the vice-presidential running mate. At the
convention, the delegates then confirm the individuals who will be the
party's candidates for president and vice president. Once a candidate
is officially chosen, the process of campaigning begins.
Campaigns last until Election Day - the Tuesday that follows the first
Monday in November. Voters in each state go to the polls and choose
a candidate. The total of the votes placed by the people is called the
popular vote. The winner of the popular vote in most states receives
all of the electoral votes in that state. Maine and Nebraska are
exceptions to this process. In these two states, two electors are chosen
by statewide popular vote. The other electors are chosen by popular
vote in each of the congressional districts. By the end of Election Day,
the country usually knows who is going to be president. However,
there is still much work to be done.
According to federal law, electors meet in their state capitals on the
Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Here, they cast
their vote for the candidate they have pledged to choose. They place
one vote for president and one vote for vice president.

Not all electors are bound to vote as they have pledged. In

twenty-four states, electors face no punishment if they change their
pledged vote. In the other states, punishments range from fines to
replacing the elector. Over the years, more than one hundred and fifty
"faithless electors" have voted contrary to their party's candidate.
However, it has not affected the outcome of any election.
Once all votes are cast, an official from each state seals the votes and
sends them to the president of the Senate. On January 6, during a joint
session of Congress, the votes are read. The candidates who receive
the majority of electoral votes are declared the president and vice
president.
In the event no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the
House of Representatives chooses the next president from the top
three candidates. As a part of this process, each state receives only
one vote. Representatives from the same state must work together to
choose one candidate. Only an absolute majority decides who will be
the president. The Senate chooses the vice president from the top two
candidates for the office. Again, the candidate who receives the
majority of votes is declared the winner.
On January 20, the president and vice president are sworn into office
and begin their four-year term of leading our country.
The Electoral College has worked well since the passage of the 12th
Amendment. During a few elections, the winner of the Electoral
College was not the winner of the popular vote. This has led to a call
to reform the system we use to elect our president. In order to do this,
Congress must pass a constitutional amendment, which the states
must then ratify. As this is unlikely to happen, the Electoral College
appears to be how we will choose our country's leader for many years
to come.

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How the Electoral College Works

Questions
1. How are electors chosen to participate in the Electoral
College?
A. by political parties
B. by Congress
C. by the president
D. by governors
2. How are the electors allotted to states?
A. by population
B. by political parties
C. by the number of congressional representatives
D. by Congress passing a law every four years
3. What is the Tuesday that follows the first Monday in
November called?
A. Electoral College Day
B. Election Day
C. Electoral Day
D. Voting Day
4. Why do electors meet in their state capitals on the Monday
after the second Wednesday in December?
A. because federal law calls for the Electoral College to be
held this day
B. because the political parties decided to hold the Electoral
College on this day
C. because the states made laws to hold the Electoral
College on this day
D. because the constitution calls for the Electoral College to
be held this day

5. When is a newly elected president actually declared the winner

of the election?
A. after the Electoral College meets
B. on January 20 when the president is sworn into office
C. on Election Day
D. on January 6 when Congress meets
6. The total of the votes placed by the people is called the
population vote.
A. false
B. true
7. Which of the following people could not be an elector?
A. a citizen who has reached voting age
B. a federal employee
C. a political party member
D. an ordinary citizen
8. What must be done to change the way we elect our president?
A. Congress must pass a law.
B. The states must pass laws.
C. A constitutional amendment must be passed and ratified.
D. The president must sign an Executive Order.