Electoral Questions

From USA Today:

"7 surprising things you didn’t know about the Electoral College"

First, some quick background on the electoral college:

• It was created as a compromise between founding fathers who could not decide whether citizens or Congress should elect the president.
• The Electoral College vote will officially be counted by Congress on January 6, 2017.
• If no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes — the number needed to win — then the House of Representatives votes for president and the Senate votes for VP.

Now that you’ve got the basics, here are some intriguing facts about the Electoral College that you should know.

1. You don’t vote for president — you vote for the Electoral College

Your vote that you think you cast for the candidate you believe most fit to become commander-in-chief actually goes to elect members of the Electoral College, typically people you have never heard of. By voting Republican, for example, you are voting for a member of the Electoral College who is expected to vote in consistency with their party line.

2. You could (maybe) become a member of the Electoral College

Electors are nominated by their state party’s committee. This can sometimes be a reward based on years of loyalty to the party. Therefore, if you are politically active in your party, your chances of becoming an elector are increased. Electors can also campaign for a spot. Voting is held at the state’s party convention. However, an Electoral College member cannot be a member of Congress or an individual who has rebelled against the United States.

3. The winner of the popular vote does not always win the presidency

Presidential election winners have actually lost the popular vote in four elections. In 1824, John Quincy Adams became president despite losing by 44,804 popular votes to Andrew Jackson due to the Electoral College system. The same thing happened in 1876, when Rutherford B. Hayes lost the popular vote to Samuel J. Tilden but won the White House. Benjamin Harrison also lost the popular vote to Grover Cleveland in 1888, as did George W. Bush, who lost the popular vote to Al Gore in 2000.

4. Electors who vote for another candidate may be punished

Electors are pledged to represent their party’s candidate, but they’re not bound to by federal law. Some states can punish electors who go rogue with fines or jail time, but the votes have to be accepted by Congress either way. Over 150 so-called “faithless electors” have stepped out of line to date. And that may happen again this year in Washington State.

5. The Holy Roman Empire used a similar electoral institution

Princes from various states chose who would become the Holy Roman Emperor through a vote. The name “college” comes from the historic College of Cardinals, who determine the pope in the Catholic Church.

6. Electors cannot meet together

Electors always meet at their state capitols rather than in one location, such as Washington D.C. This is to combat and prevent possible corruption.

7. In 1872, electors voted for a dead man

Horace Greeley, a Democratic candidate in 1872, died on November 29, 1872 — after Election Day, but prior to the Electoral College vote. Three electoral votes were still cast for Greeley, but Congress did not count them.

^ A good, brief summary of what the Electoral College is and does. ^

http://college.usatoday.com/2016/11/07/7-surprising-things-electoral-college/