Phil Leto Lecture

The Electoral College and the State of the Race

As the general election campaign begins, we review the history and political rationales for the unique system created at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to indirectly select our President. With a greater understanding of the system, we can better appreciate how the candidates prepare for what are essentially 51 separate winner-take-all elections (where most states reliably and predictably vote either red or blue) that will take place on Election Day, November 5. We will examine the most recently updated polling averages to determine which candidate might have an edge. We will then review the normally routine and mechanical events which will take place in December and January to complete the process.