2004 Presidential Campaign Blog

Presidential Inauguration Web Site

The website for the 55th Presidential Inauguration went live today. It is designed to assist members of the public as they seek tickets and information about President Bush's second inauguration and learn more about America's inaugural traditions.

Current Features include:

-- Remembering the 54th Inaugural. This feature includes a video featuring photos, and audio clips from President George W. Bush's first inaugural address.

-- Inaugural history. Learn how our inaugural traditions got started with the story of the first inaugural and facts about each inaugural since.

-- Request tickets online. This feature includes an online form for the public to request tickets to inaugural events.

New features will be frequently added as inauguration day nears.

2004 Minnesota Electoral College Assembly

Although Minnesota is a blue state and the 10 electors were pledged to John Kerry, one elector may be a little red faced. Faithless electors are not unheard of, one DC elector abstained from voting in 2000, but this may be a case of a "Faceless Elector,"  as no one admitted to voting for John Edwards on the presidential elector slate. So Minnesota cast 9 electoral votes for John Kerry for president and 1 for John Edwards. Edwards received all 10 electoral votes for vice-president.

It may have been nothing more than a simple mistake. The elector in question may have thought that the first round of voting was for vice president or with both candidates having the first name John, it would be easy enough to transpose names.

An interesting side note. Ronald Reagan received one electoral vote from Washington state in the 1976 Electoral College.  Four years later he was elected president.

Electoral College Web Site

The National Archives Office of the Federal Register coordinates the functions of the Electoral College on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, the States, the Congress, and the American People.

The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote. The electors are a popularly elected body chosen by the States and the District of Columbia on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (November 2, 2004). The Electoral College consists of 538 electors (one for each of 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators; and 3 for the District of Columbia by virtue of the 23rd Amendment). Each State's allotment of electors is equal to the number of House members to which it is entitled plus two Senators. The decennial census is used to reapportion the number of electors allocated among the States.

The slates of electors are generally chosen by the political parties. State laws vary on the appointment of electors. The States prepare a list of the slate of electors for the candidate who receives the most popular votes on a Certificate of Ascertainment. The Governor of each State prepares seven original Certificates of Ascertainment. The States send one original, along with two authenticated copies or two additional originals to the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives and Records Administration by registered mail. The Certificates of Ascertainment must be submitted as soon as practicable, but no later than the day after the meetings of the electors, which occur on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December (December 13, 2004). The Archivist transmits the originals to the National Archives Office of the Federal Register (OFR).  

New 2005 Section Added to Inaugural Website

Washington…December 9, 2004 – Senator Trent Lott and the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) are pleased to announce the launch of the new 2005 Inaugural section of Inaugural.Senate.gov.  This enhanced online resource will provide important and up to date information on the 2005 festivities while offering users a repository of historical information about inaugurals past.

The new 2005 Inaugural section will be continuously updated with information about the Inaugural ceremony and other Capitol Hill festivities, tickets, travel, accessibility, security and links to other Inauguration related websites.   The site has been designed to provide quick and easy answers to common questions about participating in the Inaugural Ceremony.

The addition of the 2005 section comes on the heels of the launch of an expansive new history section.  This section is already popular with teachers, students, and history and trivia buffs around the country.   Visitors to the history section learn exciting facts about past Presidential Inaugurations dating back to George Washington in 1789.  Links to photographs, video and audio from ceremonies have also been added.

Another new, recently installed feature is the Inaugural Webcam.  The camera, located on the west front of the U.S. Capitol grounds, will enable internet users to watch the construction of the Inaugural platform and other preparations for the historic ceremony.

“It is our hope that people will visit this website often for updated information on the 2005 ceremonies and take a fun look back at a rich history of Presidential Inaugurals,” said Senator Lott, Chairman of the JCCIC.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is charged with the oversight and planning of the Presidential Inauguration and related ceremonies on the US Capitol grounds.