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| About the U.S. Electoral College: 2008 Presidential Election |
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2008 Presidential Election: Summary of Key Dates,
Events & Information
(Information
courtesy of the NARA
- Federal Register)
June thru October 2008
* Preparation
Stage
The
Federal Register prepares letters and instructional materials for the
Archivist to send to the Governors of the 50 States and the Mayor of
the District of Columbia. The materials include pamphlets on Federal
election law and detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit the
electors' credentials (Certificates of Ascertainment) and the electoral
votes (Certificates of Vote). In October, the Federal Register begins
contacting Governors and Secretaries of State to establish contacts for
the coming election.
November 4, 2008
* General Election
Registered voters in each State and the District of Columbia vote for
President and Vice President. They cast their vote by selecting a pair
of candidates listed on a single Presidential/Vice Presidential ticket.
By doing so, they also choose slates of Electors to serve in the
Electoral College. Forty-eight of the fifty States and the District of
Columbia are "winner-take-all" (ME and NE are the exceptions).
Mid-November thru December 15, 2008
* Transmission of
Certificates of Ascertainment to NARA
The
Ascertainment lists the names of the electors appointed and the number
of votes cast for each person. The States prepare seven originals
authenticated by the Governor's signature and the State seal. One
original and two certified copies are sent to the Federal Register (the
remaining six are attached to the electoral votes at the State
meetings). The Governors must submit the certificates "as soon as
practicable," after their States certify election results. They should
be transmitted no later than December 15 (but Federal law sets no
penalty for missing the deadline).
December 9, 2008
* Date for
Determination of Controversy as to Appointment of Electors
States must make final determinations of any controversies or contests
as to the appointment of electors at least six days before December 15
meetings of electors for their electoral votes to be presumptively
valid when presented to Congress. Determinations by States' lawful
tribunals are conclusive, if decided under laws enacted prior to
election day.
December 15, 2008
* Meetings of
Electors and Transmission of Certificates of Vote to NARA
The
electors meet in their State to select the President and Vice President
of the United States. No Constitutional provision or Federal law
requires electors to vote in accordance with the popular vote in their
States. NARA's web site lists the States that have laws to bind
electors to candidates. The electors record their votes on six
"Certificates of Vote," which are paired with the six remaining
Certificates of Ascertainment. The electors sign, seal and certify
packages of electoral votes and immediately send one set of votes to
the President of the Senate and two sets to the Archivist. The Federal
Register preserves one archival set and holds the reserve set subject
to the call of the President of the Senate to replace missing or
incomplete electoral votes.
December 24, 2008
* Deadline for
Receipt of Electoral Votes at NARA
The
President of the Senate and the Archivist should have the electoral
votes in hand by December 24, 2008 (States face no legal penalty for
failure to comply). If votes are lost or delayed, the Archivist may
take extraordinary measures to retrieve duplicate originals.
On or Before January 3, 2009
* Transmission of
Certificates of Ascertainment to Congress
As
the new Congress assembles, the Archivist transmits copies of the
Certificates of Ascertainment to Congress. This generally occurs in
late December or early January when the Archivist and/or
representatives from the Federal Register meet with the Secretary of
the Senate and the Clerk of the House. This is, in part, a ceremonial
occasion. Informal meetings may take place earlier.
January 6, 2009
* Counting
Electoral Votes in Congress
The
Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes (Congress
may pass a law to change the date). The President of the Senate is the
presiding officer. If a Senator and a House member jointly submit an
objection, each House would retire to its chamber to consider it. The
President and Vice President must achieve a majority of electoral votes
(270) to be elected. In the absence of a majority, the House selects
the President, and the Senate selects the Vice President. If a State
submits conflicting sets of electoral votes to Congress, the two Houses
acting concurrently may accept or reject the votes. If they do not
concur, the votes of the electors certified by the Governor of the
State would be counted in Congress.
January 20, 2009 at Noon
* Inauguration
The
President elect takes the Oath of Office and becomes the U.S. President.
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