The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-11-20
The Electoral College.
{ HOlyoke, Mass, transcript.

(Holyoke, Mass, transcript
Since election the Transcript has had
numerous inquiries about the electoral
vote and the electoral college. One
question was asked was whether the
electors could vote for other than the
candidate they had been elected to
vote for. Other questions were asked
showing that people are alive to the
presidential question and the working
Of the electoral vote. The electoral
system goes back to the foundation of
the republic. When the constitution
was being framed this electoral sys-
tenn consumed more time and more at
tentlon than any other topic There
had been Jealousies among the colonies
and there was seemingly impossible
" of framing scheme of government
which all would uphold. The smaller
colonies feared lest the larger ones
should monopolize control. The large
colonies objected to yielding dispro-
portionate influence to the lesser com
monwealths. All agreed that a strong
single executive ought to be estab,
ished, but when it came to finding a
way to choose him there was confusion.
1t was the confusion that was dealt
toral college system was drawn M. Yet
with all the thought that was expend-
ed i'll the evolution of the electoral
system the elaborate scheme broke
down after two trials, and it would not
| indeed have lasted so long but for the
| personal popularity of George Wash
ington. As at first designed, the cleo
tors did not distinguish their choice
| between president and vice president.
| but the candidate receiving the high
| est number of votes was declared presi-
| dent and his nearest competitor vice
| president In 1904 the 18th amendment
to the constitution was adopted, under
| which separate vote for the two of
| fees was provided
| The rise of national parties, with
their conventions, altered the whole
situation. These parties and their con
ventIons are not recognized by the con
| 5tltutlon and their conclusions are not
| legally binding. Nevertheless. the elec.
5ors running on each party s ticket are
| bound Ill honor to vote for the candi-
late presented by their party. thus
arriving out the popular will where the
written law has failed to provide 2
means.
| Congress has the power to fix the
late for the choice of electors. and il
9as set the first Tuesday after the first
Monday of November in presidential
wears as the date Most of the states
nave fixed their state elections fol
| ne year on the same day. The consti
Futlons, however, leaves it to the state
legislature TO decide how the elector.
hail be chosen. They may be elected
/, ~ the legislature, or by congressiona
or other districts, or by general stat,
ticket. There is no specific right be
longing to a citizen to vote for presi
dent. 1t is rather a privilege extende,
" the legislature The electors in eael
. state, when chosen, meet at a plac,
designated by the legislature on TIL
second Monday in January. Havin.
voted by ballot for president and vie
president, each college prepares a lis
Of candidates, with the number o
votes for each, which, when verified b,
every elector and authenticated by tn
governor is forwarded by mail and b,
messenger to the president of the Unit
ID States senate.
, The electoral votes for all the state
are opened and counted by the presi
t dent of the senate in the presence o
10Th houses of congress on the secon,
Wednesday in February.