Electoral College FAQ

ByABC News
November 17, 2000, 1:13 PM

— -- Think youre electing the next president on Election Day? Think again. That task is left to the obscure but powerful electoral college.

When voters cast their ballots, theyre actually electing the 538 members of the Electoral College, the ones who will really cast votes for Al Gore and George W. Bush. It takes 270 of their votes to determine the next president.

Still confused? Read on for answers to more frequently asked questions about the Electoral College.

Why an Electoral College?

In a nutshell, the founding fathers didnt trust us. They didnt fear our stupidity so much as the limited ability of our forbears to learn about candidates outside their home region. Complicating matters further, a large bloc of smaller states sought to safeguard their powers within the new federal union.

At one point, the founding fathers approved a system whereby Congress would choose the president something akin to Britains parliamentary system, minus the king. But that crumbled after fears that uncouth deals might be struck by legislators in private, so other proposals were considered. Direct election by the people was rejected, as was election by a vote of the governors, voting by electors chosen by each states legislators and, loopiest of all, voting by a special cadre of congressmen chosen by lot.

Who Are Electors?

The Constitution bans any person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States from becoming an elector. (State officials, such as governors or state legislators, are allowed.)

Beyond that, anyone can do it. There are no age restrictions, no residency requirement, not even a citizenship test. In theory, theres nothing preventing a newborn from Norway from accepting a gig as a Nevada elector.

In practice, however, being an elector is a political plum carefully doled out by state party officials. Usually, the major political parties select these individuals either at their state conventions or through appointment by state party leaders, while third parties and independent candidates simply designate theirs.