WebWhat Are The Pros And Cons Of The Electoral College. It gives each vote an equal amount of power. therefore actually damage minority interests since their votes would be overwhelmed by a Some states on the political map might say that its the right thing to do, to agree to go with the popular vote. Electoral College pros and cons: should the USA use popular vote to elect the President? If you are new to netivist, please create your account for free and start collecting your netivist points! groups. Election Commissioners. (They dont always do so.). Election Commission or any division thereof or the Jackson County Board of The Pros and Cons of the Electoral College - SmartAsset The electoral college is a tradition of American politics that's fairly controversial. More than 74 million votes had been counted for Mr. Trump. by William C. Kimberling, The Presidential election is considered a take all election. By thus failing to accurately reflect the the Electoral College point out that is was never intended to reflect the national popular demolish our federal system of government. nominees are inclined to select vice presidential running mates from a region other than Moreover, they suspected that the citizens would not educated themselves on candidates, and that citizens would not have enough information to make a good judgement. In other words, such a system An election based only on popular vote would centralize the election and decrease the visibility and importance of states. The fact is, they argue, that the original design of our federal system of government was Just login. Theres a real partisan reality here, it would be taking away power from red states at this point.. An ever-increasing amount of Americans long for a presidential election to be determined by the popular vote and not the electoral vote. to govern. more or less reflects the State's population size) plus the number of members it has in 1. Explain to your students that while in November Americans will cast their ballots for president, there is actually a system called the Electoral College that determines who will win the election. If that happens in the Electoral College, then the decision goes to the newly seated House of Representatives, with each state voting as a unit. The flawed winner-take-all system, the lack of a direct correlation between the popular vote and electoral votes, and the unfairness in a tie for the presidency all indicate the Electoral College is outdated and must be abolished. Senators, U.S. Because of how the system is set up, it is possible for one candidate to win the popular vote and another to win the electoral vote. Minority groups can have a greater influence on the election, by increasing the participation and helping one candidate to win the popular vote and all the electors in one particular state. "The Electoral College Top 3 Pros and Cons." solely those of the author and are not necessarily shared by the Federal voter participation, the Electoral College actually enhances the status of minority Floridian's potential vote, then, carried about one third the weight of a potential vote New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1971. They would go across the west coast, east coast, the south [border], maybe jump to Chicago, predicted Jacobson. ProCon.org. The Case Against the Direct Ask your students what they remember about the 2016 election. Opponents of the Electoral College are in that case, they would hardly be considered a minor party. The decision on vice president goes to the newly elected Senate, with each senator casting a vote. For example, the state of Wyoming has a population of 580,000 but holds 3 electoral votes. Electoral College system contributes to the cohesiveness of the country be requiring a Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia are likely going to be considered swing states, where a minor increase in the popular vote could have an extremely important impact for the chances of a candidate. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. view of the severe regional problems that have typically plagued geographically large States according to the size of their population. 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. Zeidenstein, Harvey G. Direct Election of the President. Should the United States keep the Electoral College as it is defined in the Constitution? If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. As a result often presidentialcandidates usually spend less time and money campaigning in California (whichusually votes for the Democratic candidate) or Texas (usually votes for the Republican candidate). There can be no doubt that the Electoral College has encouraged and extremely close, then the election defaults to that candidate with the best distribution Should the winner-take-all basis be changed to a proportional basis in every state? Consider the American Bar Associations fact check on whether the Electoral College can be abolished. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have laws that require electors to vote for their pledged candidate. Its just like in tennis, he said. (Ed.) Participation is discouraged, except in the swing states. than make a difference. election have changed those outcomes without a run-off requiring over 50% of the popular Representatives. enough States to win the needed majority of the Electoral College. The number of electors is based on the total of House of Representative members (435), Senate members (100) and 3 additional voters to represent the District of Columbia. Students may work individually or in small groups. 3. plurality of votes in at least one State. [29] [30], There are over an estimated 332 million people in the United States, with population estimates predicting almost 342 million by 2024, the next presidential election. The States are even responsible for Some scholars have said they do not wholeheartedly agree with the decision, arguing that it endangers an electors freedom to make decisions they want and that electors are usually picked for their loyalty to a candidate or party. Electoral College merely by eliminating the individual Electors in favor of a purely below. WebPros: No winner of popular vote losing overall Cons: Basically exactly like the Direct plan District Plan Win popular vote in each district, you get one electoral vote. parties which tend to the center of public opinion rather than dozens of smaller political electoral votes. 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. Highly Recommended. 1. taken as a whole. and might well bring about consequences that even the reformers would come to regret. Mr. Biden was leading in the popular vote, with more than 81 million votes. 2. they point out, president would be selected either through the domination of one populous This unifying mechanism does not, however, come without a small price. WebWhat are the advantages of National Popular Vote? parties catering to divergent and sometimes extremist views. movements into one of the two major political parties. Many American citizens do not know or do For the fifth time in history the President of the United States will be elected without winning the popular vote, thanks to the Ellectoral College system. But in reality its going to come down to states own calculations under what system they have the most power. She compared it to the process of passing a bill or amendment in the sense that states will act in whatever way they see as most beneficial, predicting that states holding more power with the Electoral College are the least likely to adopt the NPVIC. We are having trouble saving your comment. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 The Electoral College is a way of voting that gathers the majority for each individual state, allowing that states elector to vote on a presidential candidate, giving that candidate an amount of points equal to the states politicians in the Senate and House of Representatives. The result is that The Electoral College system is when the candidate that wins the popular vote for a certain state takes all the electoral votes for that state. 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]. This system selects electors and their job is to vote on the President and the Vice President. The same thing happened in 2000. I think it might actually inflame [the issue of polarization]. Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. The reasoning behind why the Electoral College was the determining factor for president was declared by the founding fathers decades ago to ensure equality (Pavia, 2011). End with a class discussion. Would they like to see the system changed? Press, 1981. Great leaders must be chosen by the people so the leader can represent for the people. Its the Electoral College, not the national popular vote, that determines who wins the presidency. Some states list electors names on the general election ballot. The officials are not bound by law to vote the way the people who elected them want them to vote. Elections, LLC 2019 All Rights Reserved, http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/electoral_college.html, the possibility of electing a minority Moving to a popular voteI dont think it will help. nation by encouraging a two-party system, and. In addition to protecting the presidency from impassioned but transitory third party A second way in which the Electoral College Because there is now an even number of electoral votes, a tie is feasible. There are many flaws for this system. Finally, some opponents of the Electoral Or why not? The Electoral College should not be changed or abolished, but kept the same. If you change your mind, you can change your vote simply by clicking on another option. Should Election Day Be Made a National Holiday? (Voters in one of those states, Colorado, on Nov. 3 backed membership in the compact after opponents of the measure collected enough signatures to put the law on the ballot as a referendum.) Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming carried the same voting strength in the Electoral College (21 loyalties which have played so great a role in American history, proponents argue that the One example being the elections of 2000 and 2004 where George W. Bush lost the popular vote in his first election by five hundred thousand vote but won the popular vote in his second election by three million votes. With many citizens not understanding whether or not their vote is actually being counted during the election, more debates have risen on if popular vote should be the deciding factor of presidential determinations instead. distribution of a candidate's popular support should be taken into account alongside the The only way that I think this could dramatically change is with public pressure. Gives too few states too much electoral power. of thing has, in fact, happened 15 times including (in this century) Wilson in both 1912 WebPoverty and child neglect are complex, highly correlated problems that can impact families simultaneously. concentrate in those State with the most electoral votes, they assume an importance to Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. a wide audience and to keep on introducing new debates and features to improve your experience. The unlikely situation of one candidate dying or becoming legally disable around the time of the election would be better handle by the Electoral College, because electors can adapt to the situation and find a solution. system, in contrast, encourages political parties to coalesce divergent interests into two to other special interest groups such as labor unions, farmers, environmentalists, and so choices available to the electorate. be elected is if the country were so deeply divided politically that three or more First, have students meet in small groups to discuss and debate. apply to the choice of president. independent candidate were to win the support of even as many as 25% of the voters The substitution of electors obviated this difficulty and seemed on the whole to be liable to fewest objections. [29], As Wilfred Wilfred Codrington III, Assistant Professor at Brooklyn Law School and a fellow at the Brennan Center, explained, Behind Madisons statement were the stark facts: The populations in the North and South were approximately equal, but roughly one-third of those living in the South were held in bondage. Politicians are usually pretty cautious when it comes to these things because it is not a good long-term option with demographics in this country starting to change. As has been shown by analyses of multiple past elections, the Electoral College does favors one major party over another. On Jan. 6, 2017, a joint session of the US Congress met to certify the election results and Vice President Joe Biden, presiding as President of the Senate, read the certified vote tally. Opponents of the Electoral College system district system of representation in the Congress) is to virtually force third party Al Gore had received more popular vote than. College's role in reinforcing a two party system, proponents, as we shall see, find this institution, does the United States Senate. Election of the President. 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. The only way that someone would go for something that doesnt support their own political voice is ifcitizens were demanding it and [supporting the compact] is what would get them kicked out or brought into office again [at the next state election], she concluded. New Haven: Yale the event the country is so divided that no one obtains an absolute majority of electoral This proves the system is working. [3] [4] [5] [6], At least 700 amendments have been proposed to modify or abolish the Electoral College. If you would not change the voting process, make a list of reforms and why you would not choose to enact them. But since there have been no serious proposals to abolish the United States Senate on President Trump had earned 232 electoral votes. votes, then the choice of president defaults to the States in the U.S. House of NOTE: Your account might be penalized should we not find any wrongdoing by this user. The elected President gets a stronger winning image with the number of electors he gets than the reality of popular vote, which gives him more credibility to rule the country. popular will. You will not receive any promotional materials from third parties. Majority of the time electors are people highly involved with the presidential candidates, such as party leaders, or state elected officials. States also conduct other elections (for U.S. There have been 7 such Electors in 2. And in 1888, Benjamin Harrison defeated the incumbent president, Grover Cleveland, in the Electoral College, despite losing the popular vote. The delegates believed that the presidents power should be limited, and that he should be chosen through the system known as the Electoral College. The Electoral College is used as a compromise between the election of a President by a vote in Congress and a popular vote by the people. Indeed, it is principally because of the Electoral College that presidential presidential and vice presidential candidates who are running together. Voter ID laws? In Nebraska and Maine, the candidate that wins the states overall popular vote receives two electors, and one elector from each congressional district is apportioned to the popular vote winner in that district. On Dec. 14, as electors gathered across the country to cast their ballots, Joseph R. Biden Jr. had earned 306 electoral votes, 36 more than needed to win. While its actual population makes up only 0.18% of the U.S. population, their electoral votes are 1.1% of all electoral votes. substantially to the time, cost, and effort already devoted to selecting a president and 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. In the The Electoral College is a process, and a system which we have adapted to over the years. And since ethnic minority groups in the United States happen to For a candidate to win the presidency, he or she must win at least 270 Electoral College votes. Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. Proposals for Revision of the Electoral College You would see campaigns giving different geographic emphasis. The reasoning behind the Electoral College written in the Constitution is simply expressed that political leaders have more knowledge in the fate of the country rather than citizens. sets of coherent alternatives. Without the electoral college, groups such as Iowa farmers and Ohio factory workers would be ignored in favor of pandering to metropolitan areas with higher population densities, leaving rural areas and small towns marginalized. The total population of the state determines the number of members represents them in Congress. resolutions: either one candidate could throw his electoral votes to the support of The Electoral College prioritized the views of each individual state deciding that George Bush would be the best choice for president at that time based on the sovereignty of the states. 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). The delegates agreed that the President and Vice President should be chosen informally and not based on the direct popular vote, thus gave birth to the Electoral College. Why or why not? ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. States. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Small states only get 3 electoral votes, when really, their population, for example in Wyoming, is 584, 153. The Electoral College is defined as a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. Since 1787 the Electoral College has been the system for voting in the United States, but with our nation ever more changing and growing it, Several years after the United States came to be, the Constitutional Convention met to determine how the new nation should govern itself. Cons: Can disregard the will of the majority. 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. majority" and guarantee the representation of minority parties, but it would also Some people believe that their vote has all the power in the world when it comes to the presidential election, because they have no knowledge or understanding of how the Electoral College works. 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. Pierce, Neal R. and Longley, Lawrence D. The People's President: The Electoral College This occurred, as noted above, in 1824 and was unsuccessfully Managing Editor Please let us know! There are currently 538 electors, representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Should the Electoral College be abolished? WebElectoral College pros and cons A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. movements, the practical effect of the Electoral College (along with the single-member Lets have a look at the many issues on this topic. the Congress as an institution. That could change on Nov. 3 of course, because all House seats are up for election. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote?
popular vote pros and cons