electoral systems in the US

• timings of elections:

  • presidential - every 4 years according to article 2 of the constitution
  • federal law states that the election shall be on the tuesday after the first monday in november every year
  • electoral college is only used for the presidential elections - not the popular vote
  • congressional elections take place every 2 years with every House seat up for election and one third of seats in the senate
• due to the federal nature of the US Constitution, individual states have autonomy over how they run their own elections
• it takes a year for a candidate to become elected in the US

  • campaign period lasts 6 weeks
• electoral process

  • federal rules require polling stations to be accessible
  • elections are conducted by state authorities
  • parties have input such as the procedure for the National Nominating Convention
• voter registration and ballot access:

  • separate states have considerable discretion on important areas such as voter registration and requirements
  • ballot access laws are an example of state variation
  • you can have a ‘write in‘ candidate
• presidential elections and electoral college:

  • USA uses an indirect system of democracy to elect the president
  • founding fathers worried that people would choose an unsuitable candidate
  • president is chosen by electors elected to an electoral college not by popular vote
  • each state given a number of electors equal to its congressional delegation
  • 538 electors currently in the electoral college
• congressional elections

  House of representatives

  • congress is bicameral
  • lower house is elected to represent the citizens
  • they serve a 2 year term in office
  • proportional system of voting is used where voting districts in each state elect a single representative
  • voting districts must contain roughly the same number of voters
  • 435 members
• congressional elections

  the senate

  • represents the states
  • each state gets 2 senators
  • senators can serve for 6 year terms
  • a third of the senate is up for election every 2 years (mid-term elections)
  • 100 members
• what is up for election in mid-terms?

  • 1/3 senate
  • all of the HOR
• give an argument that justifies the electoral college

  • framers thought the people would elect an unsuitable candidate
• give a further argument to justify the electoral college

  • each state is given a number of members equal to its congressional delegation therefore each state is represented
• give a further argument to justify the electoral college

  • promotes federalism as states are working together to elect an executive for the federal government
• give an argument to support the abolition of the electoral college

  the winner of the popular vote can fail to be elected
• give an argument to support the abolition of the electoral college

  it frequently exaggerates the margins for victory -> Regan won 59% of the popular vote but got 97% of ECVs
• give an argument to support the abolition of the electoral college

  smaller states are over represented -> CA has one for 712,000 people whilst Wyoming has one for 195,000 people
• give an argument to support the abolition of the electoral college

  polls suggest there is popular support for reforming the electoral college
• give an argument to justify the electoral college

  it gives a clear winner
• why hasn't the electoral college been reformed yet? pt1

  practical difficulties -> it would require a constitutional amendment which requires a 2/3 super majority in both houses and ratification by 3/4 of states' legislatures
• why hasn't the electoral college been reformed yet?

  problems agreeing on an alternative -> popular voting would lead to campaigning just focusing on urban, densely populated areas. Not a single red state has signed up for a reform
• what are some disadvantages to the US electoral system?

  • gerrymandering
  • voters tend to suffer from voter fatigue
  • it tends to favor a 2 party dominant system
• what are some advantages of the US electoral system?

  • a huge number of elections offer a lot of opportunities for participation
  • the electoral college reinforces the federal nature of the US constitution
  • creates clear results
  • makes sure smaller states aren't overlooked
  • primaries and caucuses allow the voters to play a key role in selecting candidates