It's a holdover from the original text in Article II. Before the 12th amendment, the Electors voted for two people; the top vote-getter became President and the runner-up became Vice President. It was because of this that the Framers said the Electors couldn't vote for TWO people from their own state, essentially "packing" the ticket -- only one was allowed.
Since the 12th amendment split the vote for President and Vice-President, the "packing" of the ticket from large states is effectively eliminated. 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.
-PJ
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,