2006-10-27 08:32:50 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
To paraphrase a bit for simplicity, we do not actually vote for a president, we vote for an electoral pool that represents that president for our state. The number of electoral votes depends on the population of that state (which also determine the number of seats that state has in the house and senate). It differs depending on state law but some states are all or nothing, meaning if the state has 10 electoral votes and the electoral college representing the republican party received 65% of the popular vote (i.e. the actual number of votes by the people) then they receive all 10 electoral votes. Some states may divide the electoral votes so under the same scenario, the republicans would get 7 of the 10 votes and the democrats would get 3. In actuality, the electoral college does not have to stick with the popular vote at all but that is unlikely.
It's a complex system. My version has been watered down for simplicity but it gets you a general understanding.
2006-10-27 08:41:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Popular votes come from the people... you and me. Electoral votes come from the Electoral College, which many people want to get rid of. Under the Electoral College system, we do not elect the President and Vice President through a direct nation-wide vote. The Presidential election is decided by the combined results of 51 State elections (in this context, the term "State" includes DC). It is possible that an elector could ignore the results of the popular vote, but that occurs very rarely. Your vote helps decide which candidate receives your State's electoral votes.
The founders of the nation devised the Electoral College system as part of their plan to share power between the States and the national government. Under the Federal system adopted in the U.S. Constitution, the nation-wide popular vote has no legal significance. As a result, it is possible that the electoral votes awarded on the basis of State elections could produce a different result than the nation-wide popular vote. Nevertheless, the individual citizen's vote is important to the outcome of each State election.
2006-10-27 15:42:38 · answer #2 · answered by Dubs82 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each state has a certain amount of electoral votes, depending on it's population. These are the actual votes that elect a President. After an election the electoral college will convene to actually cast their votes for President. The popular votes are the actual votes counted from the voting booth, after we vote. If a candidate gets the most votes in a state, by actual count, then that candidate will receive the electoral votes from that state. I hope I didn't confuse you more now, then when I started..lol. Good Luck..
2006-10-27 15:45:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The candidate with a plurality (not necessarilly a majority) ov the popular vote in a state usually gets all the electoral votes from that state. Each state gets electoral votes equal to their total seats in both houses of Congress or 2 plus the number of house seats. The candidate with the majority of electora votes wins. If no candidate gets a majority, the house, with each state getting 1 vote, chooses the next Pres. The Senate chooses the VP.
2006-10-27 15:36:58 · answer #4 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are an elector, it only matters if your party wins you state, as you cast the only vote that actually counts for President. As has been stated, we go to the polls to cast ballots for the electors
(their names usually appear below the presidential candidates name). I actually know an elector that didn't vote the way they were supposed to..
2006-10-27 18:39:16 · answer #5 · answered by rrticulate1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋