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cast the votes. You might ask, why don't we just let our Congressman and Senators cast these votes? The founders felt that the Electoral College should serve to make one vote for one purpose, the Presidency. It should not be gathered and influenced at any time for any other purpose.

The Electoral College is comprised of representatives from every state. Each member is allowed one vote and the number of congressional districts plus the two senate seats for each state determine the number of members. This means the fewest number of electoral votes is Wyoming, which has three. The most is California, which casts 54.

Surprisingly the Constitution does not require a 'Winner Take All" format that is used in every state today except Maine. It was not until the 19th century that states began this system where all the electoral votes were given to the popular vote winner in that state regardless of the margin. In other words, whether you win a state by 1 vote or 1 million votes, all the electoral votes for each state go to the winner of that state. This system is how Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000 but lost the electoral vote. Interestingly, Colorado is considering a move to award electoral votes based upon a share of the popular votes. If we use Georgia as an example, and President Bush receives 60% and John Kerry 40%, then President Bush would receive nine of our fifteen total electoral votes. John Kerry would receive six.

The 2000 election results inspired many to suggest eliminating the Electoral College, replacing it with a simple majority vote. This may seem appealing to some, but it is unrealistic to think that it would ever happen. A Constitutional Amendment would be required to make this change, meaning that three-quarters of the states would have to vote to eliminate their Electoral College votes. Small states like Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Mexico, that now receive significant attention because they are competitive, would never see a Presidential candidate under a popular vote system.

As is normally the case, our Founding Fathers knew best. Their plan for electing a President may not always offer the results we would like, but the system works.

Chip Rogers is the State Representative for District 15. You can call him at (770) 516-0543 or fax him at (770) 936-1967. You can also e-mail Chip at ChipRogers2@comcast.net. Chip also serves on The TowneLaker Community Board.

Do "We" Really Elect the President?

by Chip Rogers

On November 2, 2004, American citizens will choose our next President. Either George Bush or John Kerry will become the most powerful man in the world for the next four years. Clearly the responsibility of the Presidency is more than any of us will ever know, but in America it is "We the People" that make this decision. Or is it?

The American President is not actually elected by the people. In fact, many of our founding fathers explicitly warned against the people having this much power, which is why the Electoral College exists. The common thought is that the Electoral College was created to allow small states a say in electing our President. This is true and it is a major reason why we vote state by state, but the first reason for the Electoral College was to actually protect the people from themselves. Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist Paper 68 that there should be citizens elected by the voters to represent them in an Electoral College. These elected citizens would actually vote for the President.

"It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations. It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. This evil was not least to be dreaded in the election of a magistrate, who was to have so important an agency in the administration of the government as the President of the United States. But the precautions which have been so happily concerted in the system under consideration, promise an effectual security against this mischief."

The founders feared that a tyrant might be able to convince enough people to actually win an election. Therefore, more levelheaded representatives of the people should actually