Quick Question about the Electoral College?

Question

Let's say a state like Delaware only has 3 electoral voters. So if 90% of Delaware voters votes for John Edwards, then all 3 electoral votes go to John Edwards?

Answer 1

While the Constitution is silent on the formula for awarding electoral votes, 48 states and the District of Columbia currently use the “general ticket” or “winner-take-all” system.

Voters cast a single vote for the ticket of electors pledged to the presidential and vice presidential candidates of their choice; the ticket receiving the most votes statewide is elected.
In the general ticket system, in a two-party presidential contest, Party A Candidate may receive 51% of the popular vote, as opposed to 49% for Party B’s candidates. Notwithstanding the closeness of the results, all of Party A’s electors are chosen, and Party A’s presidential candidates normally receives all the state’s electoral votes; Party B gains no electoral votes.

The alternative plan adopted by Maine and Nebraska uses the district system. Under the district system, two electors
are chosen on a statewide, at-large basis, and one is elected in each congressional district.
Each voter still casts a single vote for President and Vice President, but the votes are counted twice: first on a statewide basis, with the two at-large elector-candidates winning the most votes getting elected, and then again in each district, where the district elector-candidate winning the most votes is elected.

Answer 2

49 of the 50 states allocate their electoral votes all or nothing, based on whoever gets the highest popular vote in the state.

So, it doesn't matter if a candidate gets 51% or 90% -- they get same same number of electoral votes (all).

But if one candidate gets 49.9% and the other gets 50.1%, the electoral votes are not split evenly between the two. The second candidate gets them all, same as if the split had bee 1% and 99%.

That's the problem with the electoral college math.

Answer 3

Different states have different laws concerning their electoral votes. In some, the winning candidate gets 100% of the state's electoral votes. In other states, the electoral votes are apportioned to the candidates in relation to the popular vote. I don't know what the process is in Delaware.

Answer 4

Each state is allowed to distribute its electoral votes in the manner they choose. Most choose the winner take all approach, but some are considering giving them to the candidates proportionally.

It would be a good idea in places like California, where every election 13 million people don't have their voice heard.

Answer 5

Here you go..
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/procedural_guide.html