The Original Presidential Vision

How the Electoral College was expected to function by the people who agreed upon it.

Written from the imagined perspective of the Framers themselves, based on sources contemporary to the writing of the Constitution — particularly Madison’s notes.

Greetings, citizen! Today, I wish to explain to you the proposed procedure for electing the executive of the federal government under the newly-written constitution.

The new office of the President of the United States will be filled using a three step process. First, the electors are chosen. Second, the electors assemble into separate groups, one in each state, and vote. Third, Congress receives the electors’ votes and decides on a president.

First, the electors are chosen

Each state will have a number of electors equal to its total Congressional delegation (representatives and senators combined). They must be different people, though. Senators and representatives are not allowed to become electors. For that matter, no elector should be an official or government employee, in order to avoid conflicts of interest.

The method by which electors are chosen will vary from state to state. It is up to each state legislature to decide whether to appoint electors itself, delegate the appointment to the state governor, organize elections, or whatever other method will be used in that state.