The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-05
BY ROBERT X. SHELLABY

| BY ROBERT X. SAELLAbY
| There's probably more moss than ivy on
the Electoral College, but there is Little pos
sibility, from the standpoint of practical poll
TICS Of any Constitutional or other effective
change in the system of choosing a president
and vice-president.
| Internal revolt in several Southern states
within additionally Democratic ranks has TO-
cused major attention on the working of an
electoral system which is too little understood.
Yet significant change is precluded on almost
every hand because any change would almost
certainly reduce the influence of southern
states, and there are enough Southern states,
in addition to the smaller Northern and West
ern states, to defeat the Constitutional Amend
men process that requires ratification by
three-quarters Of the states.
Electors, and not the Electoral College, APP
pear in the Constitution and here's how the
campus-less institution works: Electors are
nominated by state conventions of political
parties. Each party dominates in each state
a number of electors equal to the size of the
states Congressional delegation, including SEN
ators. These electors are usually balloted for
as group. II all OF one group receive a
majority at the polls, the entire number of
the states electoral votes is cast by this group
at the official abulation, or electoral col
lege."
| Twenty-one states using the short ballot
print only the names Of the candidates for
president and vice-president (The short
ballot is used on New York voting machines;
electors and candidates appear on all other
New York ballots.) Thirteen states print
names OF electors and candidates on all bal
lots. -Four states require electors names,
while candidates may appear Nine states
print electors but omit candidates.
Oregon requires specific pledge by cleo
| tors to vote for the party's nominees. Cali
fornla requires electors to vote for member
OF their party. Regardless of a state pledge
or state punishment duly accedited cleo
tors vote in the College is valid under Federal
law no matter for whom he casts his vote.
/ Although under fire since adopted in
| 1877. the system has been reformed onlv Q)
in regard to the choice of vice-president-
electors now vote separately for president
and vice-president instead of having the rum
ner-up in 2 single ballot become vice-presi-
dent; ~ state governments certify electoral
votes, and 81 the Twentieth Amendment elm
mates possibility that a president might be
chosen by a 'lame-duck House of Represen
tatives.
Under the 1884 law, electors vote in their
state capitals on the first Monday after the
second Wednesday in December-Dec. 18 this
year. Totals are certified by governors and
sent by registered mail to the president of
the senate. They are counted in Joint Con-
gresslonal session on Jan. 6. Candidates re-
celvlng at least majority are sworn in two
weeks Later. If no presidential candidate re-
celves majority, the House chooses one bv
SIMPLE majority, each state delegation having
one vote, except evenly divided delegations.
winch have no vote. If no vice-presidential
candidate receives majority, the Senate votes
by simple majority, each senator having one
Vote. II the House is evenly divided, the vice
president takes office until the House breaks
the deadlock N@>'
! Two amendments are before Congress. Sen.
ator LANCER R), of North Dakota, proposes
to abolish the College and elect by direct nu.
merical popular plurality without regard to
State lines. Representative Celler Cd, of New
York, and Senator Guffey CD, of Pennsvlva.
ma nras;1 Jointly seek to abolish the College and
ereolt eacn candidate with electoral votes
equal to the proportion of the total popular
vote for electors. SOHAA'A
rev Southern Democratic electors rom
celvanly might vote against Roosevelt in De.
eember, yet it is considered unlikely that the
South would vote in favor of an electoral
system which might give the more nonulous
states greater influence. - Christian Science
Monitor N~4e"1e