But after the numbers come out today, the loser should address the nation in prime time with a gracious speech resolving any doubts, allaying suspicions and directing electors in the Electoral College to remain faithful to their charge.
He did not agree with all the changes effected by the amendment, the primary purpose of which was to direct presidential electors to vote separately for president and vice president; he supported abolishing the electoral college, electing both officials by popular vote.
The only difference from current practice is that certain states would exercise their absolute prerogative under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution to "appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors" by appointing electors pledged to the winner of the national vote instead of by appointing electors pledged to the winner of the vote in their state alone.
During the 1820s new states entered the union, voting laws were relaxed, and several states passed legislation that provided for the direct election of presidential electors by voters (electors had previously been appointed by state legislatures).
The Constitution allocates to each of the states the authority to "appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors," and the electors are, in turn, empowered to meet and to vote by ballot for the election of the president.
What it does say is "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors".
By 1836 all states selected their electors by direct popular vote except South Carolina, which did so only after the American Civil War.
Popular election gradually replaced legislative appointment, the most common method through the 1790s, until by the 1830s all states except South Carolina chose electors by direct popular vote.
The Constitution reads in pertinent part: "Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors".
Article II provides that "each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors".
