If you would not change the voting process, make a list of reforms and why you would not choose to enact them. more or less reflects the State's population size) plus the number of members it has in [21] [22], A Sep. 2020 Gallup poll found 61% of Americans were in favor of abolishing the Electoral College, up 12 points from 2016. All other elections in the U.S. are through the popular vote. Pros and Cons of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. sufficient popular support to govern as well as a sufficient distribution of that support This proves that popular vote alone should decide who the president is so that it is fair for both. The Electoral College process has garnered plenty of criticism as well as praise, especially as politics in recent years have become increasingly polarized. Less populous states are favored, because the number of electors is not proportional to the voters count. If there is a tie vote in a states delegation, the states vote would not count. Even though, in theory, a pledged elector could change his vote, there have only been very few cases in history when this has happened- Therefore, voters, when casting their ballots, know with almost complete certainty which ticket their vote is will indirectly support. It only takes five people with life tenure to actually amend this Constitution through a judicial opinion, she said. When the Electoral College votes for the people, people are not really motivated to be involved in politics. This is true simply because it Yes, and that is what happened in 2016: Although Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by almost three million votes, Donald Trump garnered almost 57 percent of the electoral votes, enough to win the presidency. In order to win an election, a candidate must obtain 270 or more electoral votes, or around 50.2% of all votes. Under the electoral college system of voting, the number of representatives a state has in Congress 2. And even if he managed to win a few States, his The Electoral College can also reduce the impact of the votes within safety states. Far from being unusual, this sort This outdated Electoral College system ought to be removed for a popular vote system since it is arbitrary based on residence, leads campaigns to only appeal to certain groups, and the vote is not directly cast by the people, all leading to decreased voter turnout. Additionally, Dr. Jacobson discussed the possibility of voter depression across all states under the NPVIC. Based off this Electoral College system procedure, it leads to many advantages and disadvantages that eventually lead to the winning 270 needed votes. Keep up the good work. If the President was elected only on the popular vote, the focus would be on big populated cities, therefore ignoring rural areas. As of 2020, it has garnered 196 (73% of the requirement) electoral votes and has been adopted by 15 states and the District of Columbia. An election based only on popular vote would centralize the election and decrease the visibility and importance of states. The conclusion taken away from this very definition is that the people of the United States are not really the ones responsible for electing the president. One route would be a constitutional amendment, which would require two-thirds approval from both the House and Senate and ratification by the states, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. States. The same principle applies There is too much politicizing in the courts now, and that is a shame. [14] [35] [36], Robert Nemanich, math teacher and former elector from Colorado Springs, stated, Do we really want 538 Bob Nemanichs electing our president? Please consider making a small donation today. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 However, during the 2000 election, it also appeared that problems in one isolated state (Florida) could influence greatly the overall outcome of the election. Electoral College, the U.S. House of Representatives would select the president in Also, for mainly the smaller states, the candidate the people want to win might not win because of the low affect towards the final decision. In other words, such a system The states with the lowest number of votes are Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming, all holding 3 electoral votes. The direct consequence of using an Electoral College and a winner-take-all basis in most states is that a presidential candidate can be elected to the office without winning the popular vote, as it happened in the previous four occasions, more recently in 2000 when George W. Bush defeated Al Gore. In addition to protecting the presidency from impassioned but transitory third party Conversely, the major parties have without introducing a presidential run-off election -- a procedure which would add The system had some unusual results from the start, as evident in the election of 1800, a tie in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received an equal number of electoral votes. support elsewhere would not be reflected. distribution of popular support to be elected president, without such a mechanism, In the Electoral College system, voters cast theirballots toelect designated intermediaries, known as electors, who have usually pledged to vote for a particular "ticket", i.e. the Senate (which is always two regardless of the State's population). ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. One way in which a minority president could Make a list and offer support for each reform. Congrats you just reached a new level on Netivist. Cleveland ran again four years later and won back the White House. [24], For the 2020 election, electors voted on Dec. 14, and delivered the results on Dec. 23. I do not think this system is fair, I think it contradicts the fact that as Americans we are given the freedom to vote, but it seems as though the peoples vote actually doesnt decide much. Lara Maupin has a Masters Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from George Washington University and a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. The system tends to represent more the diversity of the country. This unifying mechanism does not, however, come without a small price. in American History and the Direct-Vote Alternative. loyalties which have played so great a role in American history, proponents argue that the The decision on vice president goes to the newly elected Senate, with each senator casting a vote. popular support. Participation is discouraged, except in the swing states. 1. This is true simply because it is extremely difficult for a new or minor party to win enough popular votes in enough States to have a chance of winning the presidency. Without the Electoral College, Bush would not have the momentum to keep running for president and run the country the way both the state and people want it to be, What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Electoral College, The Electoral College is a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. There are a total of 538 electoral votes in the whole United States of America: 100 for the senators, 435 for the states combined, and 3 for Washington D.C. and 1916, Truman in 1948, Kennedy in 1960, and Nixon in 1968. drawing the district lines for their House seats. If the popular vote was the only factor towards presidential election, what would be the incentive for rural areas and states to vote knowing the issues and opinions nearest to them wont be heard? posited Patrick Graham, history and economics teacher in the Upper Schools. Unfortunately, we see in politics that what you feel about an issue depends on what you think you could get from it. about those outcomes is that few people noticed and even fewer cared. [25], On Monday Dec. 19, 2016, the electors in each state met to vote for President and Vice President of the United States. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Indeed, if we become obsessed with government by popular majority as the only of Presidential Elections 1789-1968. Theres a real partisan reality here, it would be taking away power from red states at this point.. Yet this is less of a problem than it seems since, as a When Americans cast their ballots, they are actually voting for a slate of electors appointed by their states political parties who are pledged to support that partys candidate. Berns, Walter (ed.) enough electoral votes to be elected president; in the event that the popular vote is Moving to a popular voteI dont think it will help. would strike at the very heart of the federal structure laid out in our Constitution and States to have a chance of winning the presidency. However, a popular vote system, although hard to implement, is a more purely democratic system than the Electoral College. to govern. College. If you change your mind, you can change your vote simply by clicking on another option. Please let us know! For more on the Electoral College As of 2020, it has garnered 196 (73% of the requirement) electoral votes and has been adopted by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Indeed, it is principally because of the Electoral College that presidential below. The winner of the states popular vote gets two electoral votes, and one vote is awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each congressional district. Many citizens feel that the Electoral College goes against our nations principle of representative democracy, while others, Every great nation started with a great leader. The Electoral College also inspires many what-if scenarios, some of them more likely than others. NOTE: Your account might be penalized should we not find any wrongdoing by this user. support outweighs whatever sentimental value may attach to obtaining a bare majority of The official general election results indicate that Trump received 304 Electoral College votes and 46.09% of the popular vote (62,984,825 votes), and Hillary Clinton received 227 Electoral College votes and 48.18% of the popular vote (65,853,516 votes). operation). A Selected Should that happen today, there are two possible All rights reserved. Gallup reports 61 percent of Americans support abolishing the Electoral College in favor of the popular vote. Pros: No winner-take all. Our moderators will now review this comment and act accordingly. is extremely difficult for a new or minor party to win enough popular votes in enough It gives outside influence to states with large rural populations and undercounts states that are more densely populated, said Jacobson. But just 538 people decide who will be president; thats about 0.000156% of the population deciding the president. Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates, The debate over the continued use of the Electoral College resurfaced during the 2016 presidential election, when Donald Trump lost the general election to Hillary Clinton by over 2.8 million votes and won the Electoral College by 74 votes. accordance with the 12th Amendment. I worry and wonder what, as we see a growth in right wing military activity and citizen vigilantes, the perception of taking away power, [would do]. could take office is if, as in 1888, one candidate's popular support were heavily For as things stand now, no one region contains the absolute majority (270) of is if a third party or candidate, however small, drew enough votes from the top two that After Election Commission or any division thereof or the Jackson County Board of Cons It's not always reliable: The votes of elected officials in a representative democracy may not always reflect the will of the people. Majority of the time electors are people highly involved with the presidential candidates, such as party leaders, or state elected officials. Washington: 1969. A popular vote system would significantly impact voters and turnout. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but Trump won the Electoral College. distribution of a candidate's popular support should be taken into account alongside the In response to these arguments, proponents of Proponents also point out that, far from diminishing minority interests by depressing populous jurisdiction of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, North Dakota, South One way or another, then, the winning candidate must demonstrate both a Additionally, the Electoral College, while intended to protect the vote of each and every person, has more than once resulted in the exact opposite. National Archives:U.S. Representatives. While Gore won the popular vote by about half a million in 2000, Hillary Clinton won it by nearly three million in 2016. necessary majority. 5. The important number is 270. (Ed.) If it contains abusive or inappropriate language its author will be penalized. not fully understand the effect of different 3. the Congress as an institution. Elections (2nd ed). Prevents disputed outcomes ensuring a peaceful transition of power Reduces the costs of national presidential campaigns. President Joe Biden was inaugurated with Vice President Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, 2021. Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. What relevance do they have today. every incentive to absorb minor party movements in their continual attempt to win popular Fairness: This compact would rightfully ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes wins, just as in any other election in the country and unlike in 2000 and 2016. exacerbate regional differences. If you already created your netivist account, please log in using the button below. They will do as promised if the candidates do a very good job vetting them and picking people who are rock-solid, Professor Amar said. by requiring a distribution of popular support to be elected president. Bickel, Alexander M. Reform and Continuity. its failure to accurately reflect the national The only way that I think this could dramatically change is with public pressure. On election day, voters choosing a presidential candidate are actually casting a vote for an elector. Voters from political parties usually nominate who will be their electors at state conventions. Imagine you have been elected to the presidency and have the power to amend this portion of the constitution, which allows for the electoral college. view of the severe regional problems that have typically plagued geographically large Advantages of the NPV Interstate Compact. While its actual population makes up only 0.18% of the U.S. population, their electoral votes are 1.1% of all electoral votes. party system. The Senate was designed to represent We will help you do it! To abolish the Electoral College in favor of a nationwide popular election for president generally acceptable objectives. As for the second issue of the Electoral SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. tends to be more sensitive to ethnic minority and other special interest groups than does This would accomplish "government by popular College contributes to the political stability of the nation by encouraging a two Create your account for free. Should Election Day Be Made a National Holiday? Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. The electors of each district may vote for different parties. Nor would a direct Under this system, the President is chosen by winning the majority of electoral votes, casted by the congressional representatives of each state according to the popular vote in each state. Explore this article 1 It's Fair In a direct election, everyones vote counts for the same amount. I AM AN ELECTED JUDGE. These electors are responsible to make a final decision on who will be president, their vote is the deciding final vote. sets of coherent alternatives. Discuss. helps to maintain a two party system in the United States. Elections problems can be isolated in one state, therefore limiting the effect on the whole election. A single citizens vote really does not matter. It did not change the outcome. Their to be a positive virtue. Despite the name, it is not a college in the modern educational sense, but refers to a collegium or group of colleagues. You cant let 538 people decide the fate of a country of 300 million people. [28], Even President Donald Trump, who benefitted from the Electoral College system, stated after the 2016 election that he believes presidents should be chosen by popular vote: I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. forth. "faithless Elector" is one who is pledged to vote for his party's candidate for Two exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which rely on congressional districts to divvy up electoral votes. Vote to see result and collect 1 XP. national popular majority. The Electoral College has also awarded the presidency to candidates with a plurality of the popular vote (under 50 percent) in a number of cases, notably Abraham Lincoln in 1860, John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. In the There are pros and cons to both systems. a system of proportional representation? Just login. Vote to see result and collect 1 XP. nations such as China, India, the Soviet Union, and even, in its time, the Roman Empire. Your vote is anonymous. Signing onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact offers no more security than the current system, which will likely hinder its ability to gain traction. 14, 1788, Marc Schulman, "Why the Electoral College," historycentral.com (accessed Nov. 18, 2016), Melissa Kelly, "Why Did the Founding Fathers Create Electors?," 712educators.about.com, Jan. 28, 2016, Hans A. von Spakovsky, "Destroying the Electoral College: The Anti-Federalist National Popular Vote Scheme," heritage.org, Oct. 27, 2011, Richard A. Posner, "In Defense of the Electoral College," slate.com, Nov. 12, 2012, Jarrett Stepman, "Why America Uses Electoral College, Not Popular Vote for Presidential Election," cnsnews.com, Nov. 7, 2016, Gary Gregg, "Electoral College Keeps Elections Fair," politico.com, Dec. 5, 2012, John Nichols, "Obama's 3 Million Vote, Electoral College Landslide, Majority of States Mandate," thenation.com, Nov. 9, 2012, Joe Miller, "The Reason for the Electoral College," factcheck.org, Feb. 11, 2008, William C. Kimberling, "The Manner of Choosing Electors," uselectionatlas.org (accessed Nov. 18, 2016), Sanford V. Levinson, "A Common Interpretation: The 12th Amendment and the Electoral College," blog.constitutioncenter.org, Nov. 17, 2016, Andrew Prokop, "Why the Electoral College Is the Absolute Worst, Explained," vox.com, Nov. 10, 2016, Sam Weber and Laura Fong, "This System Calls for Popular Vote to Determine Winner," pbs.org, Nov. 6, 2016, Leslie Stahl, "President-elect Trump Speaks to a Divided Country on 60 Minutes," cbsnews.com, Nov. 13, 2016, Lisa Lerer, "Clinton Wins Popular Vote by Nearly 2.9 Million, elections.ap.org, Dec. 22, 2016, Doina Chiacu and Susan Cornwell, "US Congress Certifies Trumps Electoral College Victory, reuters.com, Jan. 6, 2017, Congressional Research Service, "The Electoral College: A 2020 Presidential Election Timeline," crsreports.congress.gov, Sep. 3, 2020, Jonathen Easley, "Gallup: 61 Percent Support Abolishing the Electoral College," thehill.com, Sep. 24, 2020, Fair Vote, "Past Attempts at Reform," fairvote.org (accessed Oct. 1, 2020), John Wagner, et al., "Pence Declares Biden Winner of the Presidential Election after Congress Finally Counts Electoral Votes,", Jeremy Stahl, "This Team Thinks They Can Fix the Electoral College by 2024," slate.com, Dec. 14, 2020, Nicholas Casey, "Meet the Electoral Colleges Biggest Critics: Some of the Electors Themselves," nytimes.com, Dec. 12, 2020, Wilfred Codrington III, "The Electoral Colleges Racist Origins," theatlantic.com, Nov. 17, 2019, Peniel E. Joseph, "Shut the Door on Trump by Ending the Electoral College," cnn.com, Dec. 15, 2020, Steve Sisolak, "Governor Sisolak Statement on Assembly Bill 186," gov.nv.gov, May 30, 2019, Andrew Selsky, "Critics of Electoral College Push for Popular Vote Compact," apnews.com, Dec. 12, 2020, Mara Liasson, "A Growing Number of Critics Raise Alarms about the Electoral College,", Faith Karimi, "Why the Electoral College Has Long Been Controversial," cnn.com, Oct. 10, 2020, US Census Bureau, "U.S. and World Population Clock," census.gov (accessed Dec. 8, 2021), US Census Bureau, 2017 National Population Projections Tables: Main Series," census.gov, 2017. Electors, the possible role of the Electoral College in The President and Vice President of the United States are not elected directly by a nationwide popular vote, but by an Electoral College. government. Electoral College pros and cons: should the USA use popular vote to elect the President? practical matter, the popular difference between the two candidates would likely be so direct popular election, there would be every incentive for a multitude of minor parties [3] [4] [5] [6], In each state, a group of electors is chosen by each political party. Sayre, Wallace Stanley, Voting for President. You may assign these groups according to your Learning Management System (LMS) if conducting distance or remote learning. This is the winner takes all rule. Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1983. enough States to win the needed majority of the Electoral College. Other believe it is as flawed, if not less flawed, than any other system thought of.
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