In order to "Win" the Lottery, you only need 1 ticket. Correct? Does buying more than 1 ticket increase your odds? Yes. Well, nominations are similar, yet different. I'll explain in very simple terms. (Albeit long winded). I think you all will understand.
In an AVERAGE YEAR:
1. EACH NOMINATING SLATE will have "X" number of (For lack of better words, GUARANTEED APPOINTEES). I say "X" number, because basically EACH Representative and EACH Senator, will have 1 guaranteed appointment from their slate. However, some nominating slates, like PRESIDENTIAL, can have up to 100 appointments. ROTC can have 20. etc... But for our discussion, we will concentrate on the Representative and Senator. On average, each of these individuals will be guaranteed 1 appointment per year. Some years, they might have 2 vacancies at the academy, and they'll submit 2 SEPARATE Slates. They will receive a guaranteed appointment for EACH SLATE.
2. The MORE SLATES YOU ARE ON, the better your chances are. ASSUMING you are the person chosen. The senator/representative can rank the list 1-10 and the academy MUST take the #1 person listed "If Qualified". The senator/representative can list just the #1 (Principal) and the other 9 are ONLY CONSIDERED if the #1 is "Not Qualified". Or, the Senator/Representative can simply provide a list of 10 names and let the academy choose 1. But no matter what, the academy MUST CHOOSE ONE from that list. So as I said, the more lists/slates you're on, the better your chances.
2a. Honestly though, the "Better your chances are", really only applies to the SUPER DUPER APPLICANT. Take a state like California. They have 53 representatives and the 2 senators. That's a GUARANTEED 55 appointments. (Assuming each rep/senator only has 1 slate). There's probably going to be at least a dozen PERFECT academic applicants. Throw in athletics, volunteering, etc... and you can see how a person might not get the appointment from their representative's slate, because another person was just as good or better. In these states, most times, the senators use their slate to get that #2 on a representative's slate an appointment. Most states, the representatives and senators talk to each other.
3. Now; this mandatory 535 (average minimum) senator/representative slate appointments, only make up about 40-50% of all appointments. Like I said earlier, there's another 20 from the ROTC slate; another 100 from the Presidential Slate, and some other various slates. For argument sake, let's say 200 total. Now; if you're on any of THESE SLATES, your odds go up again. But let's assume you don't get one of these 200 appointments, lets assume 535 + 200 appointments are given out. That leaves approximately 350-500 appointments left. (Each year, the total number changes). This is what we call the "National Pool" (For lack of a better term).
4. In the "National Pool", it doesn't matter if you have 1 nomination or 5 nominations. It's a 1 ticket lottery. And that's really the best way to look at all the slates. Think of "EACH SLATE" as a separate lottery. But think of the rules as though you aren't allowed to enter ALL lotteries. I.e. A person from Texas can't be considered in the New Jersey Slates. A non-military brat can't be considered for a presidential. A non-ROTC applicant can't be considered for an ROTC slate. Well, in some states, the pool of applicants is so large; that some senators and representatives, in order to increase the number of nominees from their district/state, won't give nominations to individuals who already have another state MOC nomination. This is their policy, and while you may not like it, it is "Fair" (As far as those in THAT STATE GO).
4a. This doesn't have any bearing on whether or not you have a presidential, ROTC, etc... nomination. That's none of your senator's or representative's business. That is something you earned, and you are not obligated to tell them. But as far as not receiving more than one MOC nomination; as long as NO ONE in your state can get more than 1 MOC nomination, then it's fair.
People forget; you compete at many different levels. You compete at the district/state level as well as the national level. Whether it's the national pool, presidential, rotc, etc.... So yes, there are advantages to being on more than one MOC slate. But that's generally just an advantage to individuals who are in the TOP-10 of their state. NOT 10%; actual TOP-10, where they are competing with someone in the same district who is also a TOP-10. Then they might get an appointment from a different slate. But if you don't, then you take your chances in the National Pool. And there, like I said, it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 nominations. Best of luck. Mike....