Question - Electoral Colleges

[xarir]

This is a question mainly directed to our American friends, but knowledgeble input is welcomed from all.

I'm trying to figure out American politics. [Insert joke here.] Specifically I'm trying to figure out this electoral college thing. As I understand it, each state is alloted a certain number of "votes" depending on the number of congressmen they have which in turn is dependent on the size of the population. So far so good.

But what I don't understand is the actual electoral college. It seems that Americans vote for some guy who in turn (theoretically at least) votes for the president. The electoral college guy (what do you call them anyway?) isn't actually a politician and beyond voting for the Prez, doesn't seem to serve any useful purpose. Is this true?

Also, do you vote for an electoral college person in each area? i.e. If you're in say, California, is there an electoral college person for San Francisco which is different than the guy for LA which is different than the San Diego person? Or is there one electoral college person who controls all 50 or so votes for the state of California?

 

[Drunken Master]

http://www.electoral-vote.com/info/electoral-college.html

 

[BiggieE]

The voting machines where I live will have Bush and Kerry. I think the point of the electoral college was to even out the effect of large states vs small states. The US is a representative republic, not a pure democracy as so many like to think.....

 

[shinyam]

To answer your questions, xarir:

1)The person chosen to vote is not necessarily a politician, but has shown his/her affiliation to the party they represent.

2)The total number of votes in a state determine who wins the state's electoral votes. It is not divided into sub-categories.

Note that the person who is chosen to cast their vote can technically vote for the candidate they are not representing. I don't think this has ever happened though.

 

[papasmerf]

once underrstood, it provides a balanced voice for each state

 

[peteeey]

And if this should ever fail, get your governor brother and the Supreme Court to declare you the winner.

once underrstood, it provides a balanced voice for each state

 

[oldjones]

once underrstood, it provides a balanced voice for each state

And if it's not understood? As was so clearly the case in 2000?
Shouldn't Constitutional reform of this outdated holdover from eighteenth century distrust of democracy come before outlawing gay marriage? To say nothing of giving equal rights to all, which should surely be the first amendment on any honourable person's agenda.
And why should the states have any voice—balanced or otherwise—in electing the President. Shouldn't she be the people's choice?

 

[assoholic]

..it was put in place in case the rabble tried to elect someone the
elites did not approve of.

 

[johnhenrygalt]

And why should the states have any voice—balanced or otherwise—in electing the President. Shouldn't she be the people's choice?

Because the United States is a union of sovereign states.

 

[scouser1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3736580.stm

this is by far the best explaination of the electoral college I have found on the net, as for the purpose well its hard enough to rig the vote in one state, imagine trying to rig 50 states, thats one of the main good qualities

 

[gypsy121]

The most important thing to remember about Electoral College is that when the Democrats win...homecoming weekend is a lot more fun. Blow jobs all around!! Woo hoo!!