Election Mayhem!
This article was initially intended to be a recap of the election with a focus on the effect, if any of so-called "third" party candidates. However, the events subsequent to Election Day caused us to change the focus of this article and consider other issues.
In addition to the major party candidates, there were five parties represented in the 2000 National Elections in the US, but only one of them had an impact on the result. And the effect of that third party on the ballot presented a choice that may have thrown the entire process into a state of suspended animation.
A popular misconception
Most US citizens believe that their votes are cast for a slate of candidates for President and Vice President. Actually, their votes are cast for electors who in turn cast votes for the highest offices. Each state is assigned electoral college votes depending on the number of members in the US Senate and House. The number of members of the House of Representatives depends on population, with the state being apportioned into Congressional Districts. Each state is represented by two Senators. Thus, a state with 8 congressional districts will have a total of 10 electoral votes (one for each congressional district plus one for each of the state's senators.)
With the exception of Maine and Nebraska, the states award all available electoral votes to the candidates who carry the state with the most popular votes. Maine and Nebraska award the votes based on the vote in each congressional district, and the overall winner of the popular vote gets the two votes for each senator. However, only about 50% of the states require the electors to vote according to the popular vote in their state.
For more information on the Electoral College, you may wish to visit the National Archives. Election Law is governed by the Constitution as well as the United States Code. Another excellent source of information and history of the Electoral College may be found here.
The bottom line
It has finally happened ... that event that we have heard about time after time. An election crisis caused by a very close election and the possibility that the candidate who becomes the President-elect may not actually be the one who won the votes of the majority of those casting ballots.
Sadly, there is no certainty that the recounts still underway in Florida will settle the question of who will be the next President and Vice President of the United States. By statute, the Electoral College meets on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December ... which this year will be December 18th.
With only a quarter million vote margin between the candidates of the two major parties, the 2½ million votes garnered by Green Party candidate, Ralph Nader may end up as the deciding factor in the 2000 election. While not large enough to secure Federal campaign funds, their impact may be tremendous.
What next?
Perhaps the issues raised by this election will finally sound the death knell for the Electoral College and change the face of the American political system. It has brought to public scrutiny issues most of us never think to address, such as ballot design. We certainly hope this will force us to face the problems of our election process, instead of sweeping them under the carpet until the next round.
Peggy Erickson
11/15/00
Election Mayhem!
