Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-11-21
Mode of Electing the President and
Vice President of the United States.

no, familiar with the manner in which the Pres
ident and Vice President of the United States
are elected For the especial information of
all such we make public the following state
ment, which conveys at glance the whole mo-
dus operqndi of this Interesting process.
Each State elects, after the manner prescribed
by its Legislature, number of electors equal
to its representation in the two houses of Con-
eress. AS, for illustration, Pennsylvania has
% representatives and senators in Congress,
and is entitled 10 &c electoral votes. No per-
son holding an Office under the United States
is eligible as one of The electors The method
of their appointment is not prescribed by The
constitution, but the system adopted throughout
the United States is 10 choose Them by general
ticket, excep, in South Carolina where they
are chosen by the Legislature. An act of Con-
gress requires that they shall he appointed with
in 81 DAYS Of the first Wednesday in Decem-
ber of every fourth year succeeding The last
Presidential election.
Under The present apporlonment they have
been reduced TO 275.
The electors for The several States are TO
meet on the first Wednesday in December, al
places designated in their respective States by
the Legislature, and proceed to ballot on sepa-
rate tickets for President and Vice President.
One at least OF the persons voted for must be a
resjden, of State other than that in which the
electors reside. The electors are required TO
make and sign three cerlihcales--each State
stating the number of voIes for President and
Vice President Each certificate is to be sealed
and endorsed that it contains the vote OF such a
State for President and Vice President, and
annexed to il a certified list of the electors ol
The Stale. All are 10 be addressed 10 the Pres
ident Of the Senate.
One of these certificates is TO he carried 10
its destination by person appointed by the
electors, or a majority of them, IN writing, Tor
which he is 10 be allowed 25 cents a mile for
his expenses going and returning, and is bound
TO deliver his charge al the seat of government
on the frs, Wednesday in January next ensu-
ing. The second of these certificates is de-
spached forthwith by mail, and the third de-
posted with the district judge Of the district
where the electors assemble. In case of the
failure 10 receive other certificates by the FIRST
Wednesday in January, it is the duty oil 'he
United States Secretary of the State 10 send
special messenger for the one left in the cuslo-
DIV of the Judge, as above mentioned.
On The first Wednesday Of February Con-
gress proceeds 10 ascertain The result oi Inc
election Tellers are previously appointed one
by the Senate, two by the House. AT the hour
specified for the purpose, the Senate repair TO
the Hall of The House, their clerk bearing the
certificates received from the several electoral
colleges of the states. The President OF Inc
Senate takes the chair, and after announcing
the purpose OF the joint meeting. proceeds 10
break the seals of The envelopes, commencing
with Name and proceeding in geographical or
der. handing over each to the teller without
reading.
The supefscripiion and contents Of such are
read by one of the ,elers The tellers then
count the votes, and make duplicate lists there
of, which are handed to The presiding officer,
who announces the result and declares the per-
sons, if any, who have received the majority
of all the votes given by The electors. to be cho-
sen Presiden, and Vice President OF The States
The Senate then Withdraw, their chlei clerk
bearing with him The votes OF the electors, and
one OF the lists made by the ,ellers, TO deposi'e
in the archieves of the body. The presiden.
elect is then waited upon by joint committee
Of the Two houses, and The Vice President elect
by the Preidtn, of the Senate, and notified OF
their election.
In case lha, no person receives majority
Of the electoral votes for Preslden', the House
of Representatives Immediately proceeded TO
the choice by ballot, from the persons mo. ex-
ceeding lhree) who have received the highest
a,