The Electoral College

Candidate #1

Democrat

Candidate #2

Republican

The Electoral College

Candidate #1

Democrat

Candidate #2

Republican

Each political party holds primary elections in each state and then a national convention and chooses a candidate to support for president.

The Electoral College

Elector #1 Elector #2

I promise to vote forCandidate #1

I promise to vote forCandidate #2

The Electoral College

Elector #1 Elector #2

I promise to vote forCandidate #1

I promise to vote forCandidate #2

Each political party chooses an elector in each voting district in the state that promises to vote for their candidate in the electoral college, if their candidate wins.

The Electoral College VOTERS

The Electoral College VOTERS

On election day (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), the people go and vote. While they might think they’re actually voting for president, they are really voting for an elector who promises to vote for their candidate in the electoral college.

The Electoral College

Each elector represents one of the voting districts where the people vote. Each voting district represents about the same number of people, just like for Congressional Districts.

The Electoral College

Michigan has 17 electors in the Electoral College. Each state gets one elector for each representative in the House of Representatives (for us that’s 15) and one elector for each senator in the Senate (which is 2 for every state) for a total of 17 electors.

The Electoral College

1 elector for each representative in the H.of.R. - 435

1 elector for each senator in the Senate - 100

3 for the District of Colombia - 3

538

The Electoral College

So, on election day, there is a winner from each district, either Candidate #1 or Candidate #2. Whichever candidate wins the most districts, gets the electoral votes for the whole state because it is a winner takes all system.

The Electoral College

So, on election day, there is a winner from each district, either Candidate #1 or Candidate #2. Whichever candidate wins the most districts, gets the electoral votes for the whole state because it is a winner takes all system.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1 11

1 2 2

2

2

2

2 1

The Electoral College Candidate

#1Democrat

Candidate #2

Republican

Michigan 17

Ohio 22

California 55

Nebraska 4 3

Arkansas 13

Florida 25etc.etc.WINNER? 272

The Electoral College Candidate

#1Democrat

Candidate #2

Republican

Michigan 17

Ohio 22

California 55

Nebraska 4 3

Arkansas 13

Florida 25etc.etc.WINNER? 272

This process repeats itself in each state and

then on the first Monday after the

second Wednesday in

December, all of the results are

sent to the Senate and the Vice

President declares a winner.

The Electoral College Candidate

#1Democrat

Candidate #2

Republican

Michigan 17

Ohio 22

California 55

Nebraska 4 3

Arkansas 13

Florida 25etc.etc.WINNER? 272

The Electoral College is a

system, not a place. The

electors meet at the capital of each state and report

the results of their voting district and

CAST their electoral vote.