Raymond A. Mosley,
Director of the Federal Register.
John W. Carlin,
Archivist of the United States.
On the cover: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is proud
to acknowledge its role in the Presidential election process. NARA's Office of the
Federal Register (OFR) acts as the administrator of the Electoral College on behalf
of the States, the Congress, and the American people. In this role, the OFR is charged
with helping the States carry out their election responsibilities, ensuring the
completeness and integrity of the Electoral College documents submitted to
Congress, and informing the public about the Presidential election process.
The Electoral College system was established under Article 11 (section 1) and
Amendment 12 of the U.Ś. Constitution. In each State, the voters choose electors to
select the President and Vice President of the United States, based on the results of
the November general election.
Prior to the general election, the OFR sends an informational package to each
State's Governor to officially hotify them of their electoral responsibilities. As the
results of the popular vote are finalized in each State, election officials send to the
OFR Certificates of Ascertainment, which establish the credentials of their electors.
In December, the electors hold meetings in each State to cast their votes for
President and Vice President. Those choices are documented in Certificates of Vote,
which are sent to the OFR for review on behalf of the Congress. In January, the
Congress sits in joint session to certify the election of the President and Vice
President, based on the documentary evidence assembled and reviewed by the OFR.
In the year after the election, electoral documents are held at the OFR for public
viewing, and then transferred to the Archives of the United States for permanent
retention and access.
In this Presidential election year, the cover of the book shows a representation of
the Electoral College system in celebration of the spirit of the American democratic
process.
For more information on the Electoral College, visit NARA's Web site at: http://
www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_collegel.
Our thanks are extended to Creative Services at the U.S. Government Printing
Office for its assistance in developing this cover.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800
Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001
ISBN 0-16-051455-X