Obama win drives interest in Electoral College vote

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By Gary Emerling

An often-overlooked procedure for electing a U.S. president is sparking interest after this year's historic contest.

Barack Obama won the general election Nov. 4, but he still must receive at least 270 votes at meetings next month across the country where members of the Electoral College cast their ballots. And like those readying for the Jan. 20 inauguration, area organizers already are fielding questions from those hoping to witness the largely symbolic ceremonies.

"People are very interested," said Kathryn Parker of the Virginia State Board of Elections, who is in charge of preparation for Virginia's Electoral College ceremony at the state Capitol in Richmond. "I think it's partially because it is the first time a Democrat has been elected in the state of Virginia since 1964 with Lyndon Johnson."

The 538 members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots across the country Dec. 15, and the votes are expected to be counted at a joint session of Congress in January.

In Virginia - where Mr. Obama defeated Republican competitor Sen. John McCain by earning nearly 53 percent of the vote - the Electoral College ceremony is being moved from the old House chamber in the Capitol to the new House chamber that can accommodate more people.

The old chamber - where Robert E. Lee accepted command of Virginia's forces in 1861 - holds roughly 100, she said. The newer chamber has room for double that number.

"We do have much more interest this year than we have noticed in the past," Miss Parker said. "So we moved it, so we could accommodate twice as many people."

The educational aspect of the event hasn't been forgotten in Maryland, either.

Laurence Block, a ninth-grade government teacher at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, will be taking a group of students for the ninth time since 1976 to witness the quadrennial ceremony, which this year will be held in the Miller Senate Office Building instead of the State House, which is closed for renovation.

Mr. Obama won nearly 62 percent of Maryland's vote. Mr. Block said the ceremony, where Maryland will cast its 10 Electoral College votes, gives students an opportunity "to witness government in action."