Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Presidential election of India and USA;
Why in the News?
In the US system, when people vote for a presidential candidate, they are actually voting to choose that candidate’s “electors,” who will then cast their votes for the President.
What is the structure and function of the Electoral College?
- Composition: The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
- Allocation of Electors: Each state’s number of electors equals its Congressional delegation (one for each House member and two for Senators). California has the most electors (54), while six states and the District of Columbia have the smallest allocation (3 each).
- Selection of Electors: Political parties select electors in each state before the election, typically choosing party loyalists or those with ties to the presidential candidate.
- Electoral Voting Process: Electors meet in their state capitals in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President. This is mostly a formality, as electors generally vote for their party’s candidate.
Note: The Electoral College is a body of 538 electors who elect the U.S. President and Vice President, reflecting the popular vote in each state.
How does the Electoral College impact election outcomes?
- Discrepancy Between Popular and Electoral Votes: Candidates can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote, as seen in the elections of 2000 and 2016. This discrepancy occurs due to the allocation of electoral votes based on state populations rather than a direct count of all votes.
- Focus on Swing States: The winner-takes-all system encourages candidates to concentrate their campaign efforts on a few key swing states, which can lead to disproportionate attention and resources being directed there, often neglecting voters in states where one party is overwhelmingly dominant.
- Strengthening the Two-Party System: The Electoral College reinforces a two-party system by making it challenging for third-party candidates to gain traction, as the winner-takes-all approach in most states discourages votes for non-major party candidates, leading to a perception that such votes are “wasted.”
What happens if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?
- House of Representatives Decides: If no candidate secures a majority of electoral votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives, with each state delegation casting one vote for one of the top three candidates.
- Senate Elects Vice President: Concurrently, the Senate elects the Vice President from the top two candidates for that office.
- Historical Context: This scenario has occurred only a few times in U.S. history, most notably in the election of 1824 when John Quincy Adams was elected by the House after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.
Difference between Indian and USA presidential election:
| Aspect | India | USA |
| Electoral Process | Indirect election by an electoral college of MPs and state assembly members. | Indirect election through the Electoral College, where citizens vote for electors. |
| Voting System | Single transferable vote system, ensuring proportional representation. | Winner-takes-all system in most states; majority wins all electoral votes. |
| Electoral College | Comprised of elected representatives, totaling around 5,000 electors. | Consists of 538 electors based on Congressional representation. |
| Majority Requirement | Majority of electoral votes needed to win. | 270 electoral votes needed to win. |
| Frequency of Elections | Every five years. | Every four years. |
| Nature of the Position | Primarily ceremonial; limited powers. | Head of state and government; significant executive powers. |
| Campaigning | Limited campaigning; party nominations prevail. | Extensive campaigning; candidates raise funds and engage voters directly. |
| Political Parties | Influenced by major parties, with independent candidates also eligible. | Dominated by a two-party system (Democratic and Republican). |
Conclusion: The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, with a majority of 270 needed to win the presidency. It allocates electors based on state Congressional representation. It impacts elections by creating discrepancies between popular and electoral votes, focusing campaigns on swing states, and reinforcing a two-party system. If no majority is achieved, the House decides the president.
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