Revision of Presidential Election Process
Dr. Light
English 102
12 October 2013
Revision of Presidential Election Process Being elected president is one of the greatest achievements of any president’s life. It is a lengthy process that supposedly calls on the citizens of America to cast their opinions through so called “votes”. However, the current system of the presidential election process allocates a certain number of electoral votes that is equal to the sum of U. S. Representatives and Senators for that state. Although not a state, the District of Columbia has three electoral votes. If a president wins the popular vote in that state, he or she “wins” the electoral votes of that state in a winner takes all type of manner. The electoral votes create winners and losers, takes the focus away from the message to the people from the president hopeful, creates battleground or “swing states”, is very costly to a campaign and the American people, and it is not a direct voice of the people. The procedure for electing a president is spelled out in Article II of the United States Constitution. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to that state's representation in Congress: Senate + House (US Const. art. II). Since each state has two senators and at least one representative, every state has at least three electors. The electors meet in their respective state capitals in December of each election year to cast their votes for president and vice president. If no candidate gets a majority of the electoral vote, the House of Representatives elect the president, with each state having one vote (US Const. art. II). Each state determines how its electors are chosen by state law and the process varies from state to state. In most states, the slate of electors that gets the most votes wins and gets to travel to the state capital in December to vote for president and vice president. The Electoral College was created as a barrier between the population and the selection of the president because of
English 102
12 October 2013
Revision of Presidential Election Process Being elected president is one of the greatest achievements of any president’s life. It is a lengthy process that supposedly calls on the citizens of America to cast their opinions through so called “votes”. However, the current system of the presidential election process allocates a certain number of electoral votes that is equal to the sum of U. S. Representatives and Senators for that state. Although not a state, the District of Columbia has three electoral votes. If a president wins the popular vote in that state, he or she “wins” the electoral votes of that state in a winner takes all type of manner. The electoral votes create winners and losers, takes the focus away from the message to the people from the president hopeful, creates battleground or “swing states”, is very costly to a campaign and the American people, and it is not a direct voice of the people. The procedure for electing a president is spelled out in Article II of the United States Constitution. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to that state's representation in Congress: Senate + House (US Const. art. II). Since each state has two senators and at least one representative, every state has at least three electors. The electors meet in their respective state capitals in December of each election year to cast their votes for president and vice president. If no candidate gets a majority of the electoral vote, the House of Representatives elect the president, with each state having one vote (US Const. art. II). Each state determines how its electors are chosen by state law and the process varies from state to state. In most states, the slate of electors that gets the most votes wins and gets to travel to the state capital in December to vote for president and vice president. The Electoral College was created as a barrier between the population and the selection of the president because of