The Electoral College

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September 2008

More than 100 million voters are likely to cast ballots in nationwide U.S. elections November 4. But only 538 men and women will elect the next president of the United States, and those elections will take place in 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., December 15. This indirect election system, called the Electoral College and devised in 1787 by the framers of the Constitution, puzzles Americans and non-Americans alike. It reflects the federal governing system of allocating powers not only to a national government and to the people but also to the states. We hope that this issue of eJournal USA will improve your understanding of the historical reasons for the Electoral College system and how it functions.

More Coverage

U.S. Elections

Guide to the 2008 Election

Translations

Inside This Publication

Volume 13, Number 9

From the Editors

About This Issue
More than 100 million voters are likely to cast ballots in nationwide U.S. elections November 4. But only 538 men and women will elect the next president of the United States, and those elections will take place in 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., December 15.

HOW IT WORKS

Broad Appeal, National Stature
The U.S. presidential election system was established by the country’s Founding Fathers more than 220 years ago. This system has not only withstood the test of time, but has also shaped U.S. politics throughout history.
How the Electoral College Functions
How the Electoral College works is rooted in the Constitution. Here are some facts about how the Constitution's words have been interpreted through history.
Winning an Electoral College Majority
The Electoral College system makes electing the president of the United States much more complicated than simply counting all of the popular votes. The major political parties have to craft strategies for winning the few “swing states” that can determine the election.
A Day in the Life of an Elector
Timothy Willard, one of the 538 presidential electors from 2004, recounts his experience. His candidate lost. Bruce Odessey is the managing editor of this edition of eJournal USA.

HOW IT STIRS CONTROVERSY

When the Electoral Vote and the Popular Vote Differ
Four times in U.S. history, the Electoral College system resulted in election of a candidate for president who had received fewer popular votes nationwide than another candidate.
Electoral College Reform? Not So Easy
Reforming the Electoral College system for electing the U.S. president would require enormous effort and a consensus that does not now exist.

HOW THE WORLD VIEWS IT

Electoral Systems in International Perspective
The U.S. Electoral College has features common to other election systems around the world but combined in a unique way.
The Electoral College: A French View
The U.S. system for electing the president remains mysterious to the French, but some elements of the two countries’ political systems actually seem to be converging.
Across the Atlantic, Some Surprising Similarities
The U.S. and British election systems are quite different, but they sometimes produce oddly similar outcomes.

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