[alexander_busek]

Since the 12th amendment split the vote for President and Vice-President, the [...]

I think you mean "merged," right?

By keeping the Elector requirement of voting for at least one candidate from another state, it encouraged building an administration that wouldn't be dominated by any one state.

Thanks again, PJT!

Just goes to show that the Founders really were brilliant, weren't they? Not to mention the fact that they apparently possessed an uncanny amount of foresight!

I can imagine that there were times in American history when the electorate (I mean "ordinary citizens") would have had absolutely no qualms about electing a President and Vice President who both came from the same State. The era of F.D.R. comes to mind. Everyone "knew" at that time that the office of the V.P. had no real importance, after all, so it wasn't relevant where he came from.

But now: Imagine both a P. and a V.P. from, say, California!

Regards,

[Political Junkie Too]

I said "split" because originally they voted for two names, and the cumulative vote from all electors determined the winner.

The 12th amendment had the Electors vote separately for President and Vice-President - one name for each. That's why I said "split," one vote for each office instead of two general votes for a winner and runner-up.

-PJ