The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-12-14
ELEcTINc a PRESIDENT.
Modus operandi of the
Electoral College. - F.

In some States the electors were
chosen by the Legislature in others
their election is given direct to the
people. The latter method has be-
come universal in all the States. The
electors, when chosen, meet in their
respective States on the first Wednes-
day of December, that is, when
Presidential election occurs (which
is every fourth year,) and when as
sembled they are denominated the
Electoral Colleges, and vote for one
man for President and one for Vice
President, after which these votes
are sent to the President of the Sen
ate of the United States, by a mes
senger elected for that express pur-
pose. When this is done the duties
of the electors are completed-the
college is dissolved, never to meet
again. Pennsylvania has 29 electors,
consequently 29 electoral votes
Anybody can vote-as for Congress-
men-for electors, for their choice.
They will be counted accordingly.
So in other States. When these
votes reach Washington they are
counted by the Senate, in the pres
ence of the House of Representa-
tives, and it is then declared who
has been elected President and Vice
President of the United States for
the next four years. The following
is article II of the Constitution. 1t
explains the naoolHs opera110j of the
Electoral College:
"The electors shall meet in their
respective States and vote by ballot
for President and Vice President,
one of whom at least shall not be an
inhabitant of the same State with
themselves they shall name in their
ballots the person to be voted for as
President, and in distinct ballots the
person voted for as Vice President;
and they shall make distinct lists of
all persons voted for as President,
and of all such persons voted for as
Vice President, and of the number
of votes for each, which lists they
shall sign and certify, and transmit
sealed to the seat of government of
the United States, directed to the
President of the Senate
"The President of the Senate, in
presence of the two Houses of Con-
gress, shall count the vote, and the
person having the greatest number
of votes for President, ''if such num-
Der be a majority of the whole num-
Der of electors appointed, shall be
President, and if no such persons
have such majority, then '.from the
person having the highest number,
not exceeding three, on the list of
those voted for as President, the
House of Representatives shall
choose immediately, by ballot. the
President" In choosing a Presi-
dent the vote shall be taken by
States. Each State shall have one
vote, and a quorum for this purpose
shall consist ofs member or mem
bers from two-thirds of the States,
and majority of all the States shall
be necessary to choice. Should not
the House of Representatives choose
a President whenever the right OF
choice shall devolve upon them be-
fore the 4th of March next following,
then the Vice President shall act as
President, as in the case of death
and constitutional disability of the
President. The person having the
greatest number of votes shall be
Vice President, if such number shall
be majority of the whole number
of electors appointed, if not, then
from the two highest numbers on
the list the Senate shall choose the
Vice President. Two-thirds Of the
Senate shall vote. No person con-
titutionally ineligible to the Presi-
dency shall be eligible to the Vice
Presidency"