The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24
Present Mode of Choosing the Presi.
dent and Vice-President.

The electors shall meet in their re-
spectve States, and vote by ballot for
President and Vice President, one Of
whom, at least, shall not be an inhab-
itant of the same State with them
selves; they shall name in their ballots
the person voted for as President, and
In distinct ballots the person voted for
as Vice-President; and they shall
make distinct lists Of all persons vOt-
ed for as President and Of all persons
voted for as Vice President and of
the number of votes for each. which
list they shall sign and certify, and
transmit sealed to the seat of the
Government Of the United States, di-
rected to the President of the SEN
ate. The President of the Senate
shall, in the presence of the Senate
and House Of Representatives, open
all the certificates, and the votes shall
then be counted; the person having
the greatest number of votes for
President shall be the President, if
such number be a majority of the
whole number Of electors appointed; ;
and if no person have such majority,
then from the persons having the
highest numbers. not exceeding three
on the list Of those voted for as Pres
ident, the House of Representatives
shall choose Immediately, by ballot,
the President. But in choosing the
President, the votes shall be taken
by States. the representation from
each State having one vote, a quo
rum for this purpose shall consist of
member or members from two
thirds Of the States, and q majority
Of all the States shall be necessary
to choice. And If the House of
Representatives shall not choose a
President, whenever the right of
choice shall develop upon them, be-
fore the fourth day Of March next fol-
lowing. then the Vice President shall
act as President, as in the case of
the death or other constitutional dis
ability Of the President The person
having the greatest number Of votes
as Vice-President shall be the Vice
President. If such number be a ma
jority of the whole number of cleo
tors appointed; and if no person have
majority, then from the two highest
numbers on the list the Senate shall
choose the Vice-President; a quorum
for the purpose shall consist of two
| thirds of the whole number Of Sena-
tors, and majority Of the whole
| number shall be necessary to a
| choice. But no person constitutionally
| ineligible to the Office OF President
| shall be eligible to that Of Vice-Presi-
dent Of the United States.
Meeting of the Electors.
After the electors of each State
have been chosen they meet in their
respective States, generally at the
State capital. They proceed to vote
by ballot, first for President, then in
| separate ballot, for Vice President
The clause, lone of whom at least
| shall not be an inhabitant of the same
State with themselves" means that il
| a candidate for President come from
Ohio the electors from that States
| can vote for him, but if the candidate
for Vice-President also reside in
Ohio they must vote for one from
another state. The object Of this pro-
vision is TO prevent the President and
Nice-President coming from the same
state, as that would probably give
such state too much power
Ballots are taken for President and
Vice President. Then the electors are
required to make a list of all persons
who received votes for President. and
also the number of votes each reeeiv-
ed. Another. but separate, list is
made Of all those who We're voted for
as Nice-Prcsident and the number Of
votes received by each of them. Tn"
Presidential list and the Vice Presl-
Dental list when taken together may
be called certificate
Three certificates are made, and as
each contains two lists there are six
lists altogether. These lists must be
signed certified, and sealed. Three
safe arrival in Washington of at least
one. The first is sent by a messeng-
er, the second by mail, and the third
is given to a judge of a United States
court situated in the district where
the capital of a state is located. .Af-
ter being sealed, the cnevolpes con-
tanning the certificates are directed to