The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-11-28
The Presidential Electoral Vote

Was the President Of the United States elected NoNencSE .
He was not. The people in each State merely chose a SET Of
electors of most of whom they have never heard
What will the electors do?
They will assemble in their State capitals on the second Mon
day in January and ballot for President and NhN President h>SA
of these assemblies is called an electoral c1eSN There are IS
manv electoral colleges $ there n States TAe tslritoziss aid
the District of Columbia have no Presidential Wa
Suppose a candidate should die bet~esa me November election
and the date of the assembling Of the electoral S21eT
The electors would probably receive iaSsESsssOas iron :
National convention or from recognized pA-fy k&3srs In lS72
when Greeley, the minority candidate, died SS<- the election, his
votes were scattered Six Georgia electors sE instance voted Tor
B. Gratz Brown and three for Greeley The Greeley votes were ne
jected by Congress Thomas A Hendricks and Brown divided the
votes that had been intended for Greeley.
After the voting what Is done
A certified eopy is sent by special messenger to Washington
On the second wednesday in February Congress meets to count the
votes and to announce the election
II there is a dispute over the electoral vote of certain States, as
there was in 1876, what is done?
In 1887 Congress enacted a Law providing that if doubtful re-
turns should be sent in, the one should be received which has the
certificate of a State tribunal appointed to canvass the vote-that u.s.
it is left to State authorities to decide whether the electoral votes
are cast by electors duly chosen.
How are the number of electors for each State chosen?
Each State has as many as it has Senators and representatives
Does the constitution prescribe how electors must be chosen!
No. 1t leaves this to the State.
Are they not always voted for on a general ticket?
They happen to be now. But a Legislature may provide
differently. In 1876 the Colorado Legislature chose the State
electors. Mr. Thomas Watson said the other day that under the
laws of Georgia if no ticket receives a majority in Georgia the choice
of electors is thrown into the Legislature. In 1892 Michigan voted
on its electors by congressional districts.
How do States sometimes split their electoral votes?
Occasionally a popular elector will receive enough com
plimentary votes to elect him even if his fellows on the ticket are
defeated. Sometimes mistakes in marking. ballots will result in a
divided electoral vote in a close State.
What determines the date of the National election?
In 1916 Congress prescribed that it be held on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in November. Before that time some OF the
States held elections on different days.
Does a plurality in the electoral colleges elect?
No. The constitution provides that if no candidate shall
receive a majority of the electoral votes the election shall be thrown
into the House, the three highest candidates only being voted on.
How does the House vote?
1t votes by States, a majority of the members from each State
casting its vote.
Has an election ever been thrown into the House?
Yes, twice. In 1900 when Jefferson was elected. and in 1924,
when John Quincy Adams became President.
Can a man be elected President by a minority of the popular
votes?
Yes. In 1924 Andrew Jackson had a plurality of $4,000 over
IL. G. Adams, and in 1888 Grover Cleveland had a plurality of nearly
100, 900 over Benjamin Harrison.
Is there any justification for election by States rather than by
direct popular vote?
Yes. Election by States is probably fairer to the country as a
whole. Otherwise some limited section of the country would
acquire undue influence. Thus the manufacturing State of Penn
sylvania may give as huge a Republican vote as it pleases, but it
can deliver only 81 electoral votes. Under the present system, no
President can be chosen who has not supporters in about half the
States of the Union.