History of Choosing Presidential Electors

[Keith Broaders]

The History of the Choosing Electors

The Electoral College was created to prevent the large states  from completely dominating the small states. The goal was to prervent the tyranny of a democracy.

The Founding Fathers wanted the states to decide the method of choosing their Presidential Electors.  They believed that only virtuous, well eductaed men could be trusted with the task of electing the President..

It was their intention to have the electors represent the people in districts rather than on  a statewide basis. The elections were to choose the best, but not necessarily the most popular candidate. 

They understood that if electors were chosen to represent the emtire state rather than individual districts the heavily populated areas would determine the outcome of Presodential elections.

The candidate winning the election would be determined by a panel of men of integrity that could be trusted to honor their oath to preserve, protrct and defend the Constitution..

In a republican form of government, the electors could be chosen by the legislatures of the states or elected by the voters in each Congressional District. .

The state legislatures weren't given the authority to dictate to the electors how they must vote, Compelling electors in the rural counties to vote for the candidates preferred in the metropolitan counties created a tyranny of the majority.

History of How Electors Have Been Chosen

 1788       1792      1796      1800       1804 

1808     1812     1816      1820         1824       1828

[Keith Broaders]

In the Presidential Election of 1788-1789 only 6 electors from Maryland and 10 electors from Pennsylvania were elected by the people the remaining 53 electors were appointed by the legislatures of their respective states.