THROUGH THE YEARS: Massachusetts’ Electoral College history on display

BOSTON — A letter penned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, marking the passage of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution updating the rules of the Electoral College system, was one of several historic documents on display outside Beacon Hill's House Chamber just prior to the convening of the state's 2016 presidential electors.  Prior to this amendment, American presidents were elected according to a system where Electoral College members picked two presidential candidates, with the to

BOSTON — A letter penned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, marking the passage of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution updating the rules of the Electoral College system, was one of several historic documents on display outside Beacon Hill's House Chamber just prior to the convening of the state's 2016 presidential electors.  Prior to this amendment, American presidents were elected according to a system where Electoral College members picked two presidential candidates, with the to…