4. Since the year 1800 the electors have always voted for the candidate nominated by the national party which elected them, though the Constitution does not make this requirement.
5. The ballots are sent in sealed packages to the President of
the Senate, who counts them and declares the candidate
receiving a majority vote elected.
6. If the electors fail to elect, the House of Representatives
chooses a President from the three candidates that
receive the greatest number of electoral votes.
B. The proposed system has the following characteristics:—
1. The people vote directly for the President, the candidate
receiving a majority of the votes being elected.
2. If there be no majority, the President is elected as under
the present system when the electors fail to elect.
III. The real question to be answered is, Should the direct method be
substituted for the present method?
A. The comparative value of each method must be judged by the
following standards:—
1. Which would be the more practicable?
2. Which would give the voter fuller enjoyment of his right of
suffrage?