Year: 1868

Tho election Of the President and Of
the Vice President BY Colleges Of
Electors chosen in oacu State, was drst
proposed in the convention for the
formation Of the constitution, by James
Wilson. o delegate from Pennsylvania
1t was adopted after long discussion,
and was regulated by an act Of Con
gress Of March l, 1892 The Electors
must be chosen within thirty-four DAYS
preceding the first Wednesday Of
December Of the year in which the cleo
ton OF President and Vice President
takes place. They must be equal in
number to all the Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress but no Senator
or person holding an Office Of trust or
profit under the United States can be
appointed an Elector The Electors
were first chosen in four different
modes, viz: by joint ballot Of the State
Legislature, by concurrent vote of
the two branches OF the State Legisla-
ture, by the people Of the State voting
in districts. This latter mode was evil
IDENTITY that which gave the fairest ex-
preston to public opinion, by approach
ing nearest to direct vote. But those
States which adopted it were placed at
the disadvantage Of being exposed to a
division of their strength, and the neu-
tralization of their vote; while the
electors chosen by either of the other
methods voted in a body on one side or
the other, thus making the vote of the
State decidedly felt. This considera-
ton induced the leading States of
Massachusetts, and Virginia, which
originally adopted the district-system,
to abandon it in 1900.


An act of Congress was approved
January %, l845, to establish a uni
form time for holling elections for
Electors in all the States of the Union,
whereby they are appointed in each
State on the Tuesday next after the
first Monday in the month of Novem-
Der of the year in which they are to
be appointed Each State may also by
law provide for the filling of any va
cancy or vacancies which may occur in
its College OF Electors, when such Col
lege meets to give its electoral vote;
and when any State shall have held an
election for the purpose Of choosing
Electors, and shall fail to make choice
on the day aforesaid, then the Electors
may be appointed on subsequent day
in such manner as the State shall
by law provide.


The Electors meet at the capitals of
their respective States, on the first
Wednesday of December, and vote by
distinct ballots for President and Vice
President, one of whom shall not be
an inhabitant of the same State as
themselves. They make lists Of the
number of votes given, aud Of the per-
sons voted for, which they transmit
sealed, by special messenger, to the
President of the Senate at Washington.


The Senate and House of Represent
atiyes, having met in convention on a
day fixed, the President of the Senate
opens all the certificates, and the votes
are counted The person having the
greatest number of votes for President
is duly ele cted, if such number be a
majority of the whole number Of Elec-
tors appointed. II no person have
such majority, then from the persons
having the highest number, not ex-
ceeding three, in the list Of those voted
for as President, the House of Repre-
sentatiyes shall choose Immediately,
aud by ballot, the President. If the
House OF Representatives shall not
choose President. whenever the right
of choice deyolves upon them. be-
fore the 4th OF March next following,
then the Vice-Pres ident shall act as
President, as in the case Of the death or
other constitutional disability Of the
President


Should the Office Of President and Vice
President both become vacant, it then
becomes the duty Of the Secretary Of
State 10 communicate information
thereof 10 the Executive Of each State,
and to cause the same 10 be published
in at least one newspaper in each State,
giving two months previous notice
thai Electors oi President shall be chos-
en- or appointed in the several States
within thirty-iour days next proceed
ing the first Wednesday in December
ensuing, when the choice Of Preaidsat
must proceed as usual