The National Archives and the Electoral College

When you vote in November, you won’t be casting your ballot directly for the Republican nominee or the Democratic nominee or any other candidate who wants to be President. Instead, you will be voting for the people who will actually “elect” the next President. They are called “electors,” and their names are often on the ballot, too. They are pledged to vote for a particular candidate, although some are unpledged.

“Summer Schedule” by Clifford K. Berryman, 7/24/1947. (National Archives Identifier 1693481)

Each state gets one elector for each member of its congressional delegation, and the District of Columbia gets as many as the least populous state (currently three), which makes a total of 538 electors. A candidate needs 270 votes to become President. This system is known as the Electoral College.

Originally, when electors cast their votes, they did not distinguish between the office of President and Vice President on their ballots—the candidate who got the most votes became President; the one with the second most became Vice President. After the contentious election of 1800, which resulted in a tie vote, problems with the Electoral College system became apparent.  

Tally of Electoral Votes for the 1800 Presidential Election, 2/11/1801. (National Archives Identifier 2668821)

The 12th Amendment, proposed in December 1803 and ratified in June 1804, attempted to correct some of the system’s problems by providing for separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President rather than just giving two votes to each elector. 

Administering the Electoral College is one of the National Archives’ lesser known responsibilities. Until 1950 the Department of State held this responsibility. In that year President Harry S. Truman gave that role to the Archivist, who delegated it to Office of the Federal Register (OFR), which is part of the National Archives.

In 1952, the Office of the Federal Register oversaw its first Electoral College, and the process hasn’t changed much since. Before the November election, the OFR’s legal staff sends a package to state and District officials with an outline of their responsibilities and guidance for electors.

The Certificate of Ascertainment from Ohio in the 2008 Presidential election. (General Records of the U.S. Government, National Archives)

After the election, the Office of the Federal Register collects and reviews all Certificates of Ascertainment (the names of all the electors and how many votes each slate received). Then after the electors meet in their state capitals, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the OFR collects and reviews all Certificates of Vote (showing the electors’ choices for President and Vice President). The states must prepare multiple originals of both these certificates.

Certificate of Election for Arizona, 2012. Arizona’s elector’s cast 11 votes for Mitt Romney for President. (General Records of the U.S. Government, National Archives)

The OFR then works with the Senate to ensure they have all Certificates of Vote. In early January, the votes are counted before a Joint Session of Congress, which certifies the election.

If no candidate receives 270 votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President from among the top three vote-getters in the Electoral College. This has only happened twice in U.S. history—in the election of 1800 and the election of 1824. The Senate chooses the Vice President from among the two top candidates for Vice President.

The original pairs of each state’s certificates as well as the electoral tallies ultimately make their way to the National Archives. Therefore, the National Archives’ role is actually twofold—by administering the Electoral College, we ensure the integrity of the election; then by preserving the election documents, we ensure access for generations to come.

To learn more about the National Archives’ role in the Electoral College visit our website and the Pieces of History post The election isn’t over yet…

7 thoughts on “The National Archives and the Electoral College

  1. With the US Constitution specifying that the States shall have the exclusive right to Legislate for all aspects of State and Federal elections, why when State Courts, Governors, Secretaries of States and even non executive Boards have unilaterally and intentionally varied or ignored State Legislation governing the conduct of the 2020 Presidential Election in the swing States of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin (see Amicus Curiae replies and these swing States’ Legislators detailed delineation of Administrative breaches of their electoral laws), WHY has there been no apparent approach to any Court by these Legislators (who would have Standing) alleging that their elections were unconstitutional, and must be set aside? Or has a Court denied it in any State?
    Moreover, WHY did they not advise in writing – given their Amicus Curiae intervention as above – their objection to the Governor et al “Certifying” their respective elections, and advising that – in accordance with their plenary right under the Constitution – intended to nominate their own College Electors?
    On assumes that their late nominations may have no standing in Congress on January 6?
    Any comments?

  2. The 14th Amendment, Section 3 automatically disqualified a past President from running as a candidate for serious violation of Constitutional Election fraud schemes to revolt by rebellion against the government to overthrow by force.

    The Constitution enforcement begins with the top law enforcement official The U.S. Attorney General to render an advisory opinion.

    Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court decide how the Secretary of State should handle automatic disqualification in the 14th Amendment, Section 3.

    Then National Party Convention disallow nominee to be a candidate automatically disqualified from running.

    FEC disallow campaign fund raising based on Amendment 14, Section 3 automatic disqualification.

    It’s a work in progress as the four federal indictments and 1 state indictment combined 91 charges against formal President Trump is decided. 8/25/2023

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