This document discusses the history and development of the Electoral College system for electing the President of the United States. It describes the original design where each state's electors would vote for two candidates, at least one from another state. Over time, changes were made including electors casting separate votes for President and Vice President. The document examines close elections in 1800, 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000 that were ultimately decided by the House or led to a President being elected despite losing the popular vote. It notes that 14 Presidents have achieved an Electoral College majority without a popular vote plurality.

1. Presidential Elections
The Role of the Electoral
College
Rita Davis, Presenter
John Marshall Inn of Court
Richmond ,Virginia 2004

2. The United States in 1787

3. How to choose the President?

4. First Design
The Electoral College consists of the number of U.S.
senators and representatives allotted to each state
Every state received at least three electoral votes
Each elector required to cast two votes for president,
at least one of which had to be for someone outside of
the elector’s home state
State legislatures choose electors

5. First Design
Electors were required to meet in their own states
The electoral votes were to be sealed and transmitted
to the President of the Senate who would read the
results before the both Houses of Congress
The winner must receive a majority of the votes

6. First Design
If no one received an absolute majority, the House
of Representatives would choose the president from
the top five contenders
If two candidates received a majority and have an
equal number of electoral votes, then the House of
Representatives would choose between the two

7. First Design
The winner must receive a majority of the votes –
26 states
Each state, except the District of Columbia, would
cast one vote
The candidate who received the second largest
number of votes would be vice president. If two or
more had equal votes, the Senate would break the
tie by deciding between the candidates

8. The Presidential Election of
1800
Thomas Jefferson v. Aaron Burr
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

9. The Presidential Election of
1800
Jefferson v. Burr
House vote: Jefferson 10 Burr 4
Electoral vote: Jefferson 73 Burr 73

11. Second Design
1804
Each elector was to cast a vote for president
and a vote for vice president
If there is a tie, then the House will select from the
top three candidates with the candidate receiving
the most votes becoming president
If no candidate received an absolute majority for
vice president, then the U.S. Senate would select
from the two candidates with the most votes

12. The Presidential Election of 1824
Andrew Jackson v. John Quincy Adams
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

13. The Presidential Election of
1824
Jackson v. Adams
House vote: Jackson 30.92% Adams
41.35%
Electoral vote: Jackson 99 Adams 84
Popular vote: Jackson 41.35% Adams
30.92%

14. The Vice Presidential Election of
1836
Robert Johnson v. Francis P. Granger
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

15. The Vice Presidential Election
of 1836
Johnson v. Granger
Senate vote: Johnson 33 Granger 17
Electoral vote: Johnson 147 Granger 77

16. The Presidential Election of
1876
Rutherford B. Hayes v. Samuel Tilden
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

17. The Presidential Election of
1876
Hayes v. Tilden
Popular vote: Hayes 47.95% Tilden 50.97%
Electoral vote: Hayes 185 Tilden 184

18. The Presidential Election of 1888
Benjamin Harrison v. Grover Cleveland
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

19. The Presidential Election of
1888
Harrison v. Cleveland
Popular vote: Harrison 47.82% Cleveland 48.62%
Electoral vote: Harrison 233 Cleveland 168

20. The Presidential Election of
2000
George W. Bush v. Al Gore
All images courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

21. The Presidential Election of
2000
Bush v. Gore
Popular vote: Bush 47.87% Gore 48.38%
Electoral vote: Bush 271 Gore 266

22. 14 Presidents received an
electoral majority but not a
popular majority
James K. Polk (1844)
Zachary Taylor (1848)
James Buchanan (1856)
Abraham Lincoln (1860, but not 1864)
Rutherford B. Hayes (1876)
James A. Garfield (1880)
Grover Cleveland (1884 and 1892)
Benjamin Harrison (1888)
Woodrow Wilson (1912 and 1916)

23. 14 Presidents received an
electoral majority but not a
popular majority
Harry S. Truman (1948)
John F. Kennedy (1960)
Richard M. Nixon (1968, but not 1972)
William J. Clinton (1992 and 1996)
George W. Bush (2000)

24. 3 Presidents failed to win
a plurality of the popular vote
Rutherford B. Hayes (1876)
Benjamin Harrison (1888)
George W. Bush (2000)

25. Presidential Elections
The Role of the Electoral College

26. Presidential Elections
The Role of the Electoral
College