Briefly explain how the Electoral College works. What do you think of the Electoral College? Does it serve any useful function? Does it need to be scrapped? Check out some Electoral College websites and explain what supporters and detractors have to say. If you think we need an alternative, what would you recommend?
The Electoral College is a complex system with significant debate surrounding it. From a philosophical standpoint, it raises questions about the principle of "one person, one vote." The system means that a candidate can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote, which has happened five times in U.S. history. This can make some voters feel their voice isn't equally represented, especially those in states with a small population. On the other hand, it forces presidential candidates to build broad coalitions across different states, not just focus on a few heavily populated urban areas.
Arguments for the Electoral College (Supporters)
Protects Small States: Supporters argue that the Electoral College prevents a few highly populated states from determining the outcome of an election, ensuring that small states have a voice. Without it, candidates might ignore states with small populations and focus solely on major cities.
Promotes National Unity: The system encourages candidates to build a broad base of support across different regions and demographics, promoting national unity and a more diverse political strategy.
Discourages Voter Fraud: It makes it harder to steal a national election because attempts at voter fraud would have to be widespread across multiple states to change the outcome.
Arguments Against the Electoral College (Detractors)
Undemocratic: The most common argument is that it violates the principle of majority rule. The candidate with the most individual votes should win.
Disenfranchises Voters: Voters in "safe" states (where one party consistently wins) may feel their vote doesn't matter, as their state's electoral votes are already decided. This can lead to lower voter turnout.
Focus on "Swing" States: It causes candidates to spend all their time and resources in a handful of swing states, ignoring the rest of the country.
If the Electoral College were to be scrapped, a compelling alternative would be the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). This is not an amendment to the Constitution, but an agreement among states. States that join the compact agree to award their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of who wins in their individual state. The compact would only go into effect once states representing a majority of the electoral votes (270) have joined. This system would:
Ensure the popular vote winner becomes president: This addresses the most significant criticism of the Electoral College.
Maintain the state-by-state election system: It does this without requiring a constitutional amendment, making it a more feasible solution in the short term.
The Electoral College is the process by which the United States elects its president. It was established by the Constitution as a compromise between electing the president by popular vote and by a vote in Congress. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of representatives in Congress (House + Senate). There are a total of 538 electors, and a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. When citizens vote in a presidential election, they are technically voting for a slate of electors who have pledged to support a particular candidate.The Electoral College is the process by which the United States elects its president. It was established by the Constitution as a compromise between electing the president by popular vote and by a vote in Congress. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of representatives in Congress (House + Senate). There are a total of 538 electors, and a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. When citizens vote in a presidential election, they are technically voting for a slate of electors who have pledged to support a particular candidate.