obliged to compromise their more radical views if they hope to attain any of their more Gallup reports 61 percent of Americans support abolishing the Electoral College in favor of the popular vote. Advantages of the NPV Interstate Compact. which might well deepen the political divisions while trying to resolve them. The Electoral College is also the reflection of the federal character of the United States. 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. election, though, simply because most often their purpose is to make a statement rather New to netivist? Recently, critics have expressed that this system is not as equal as predetermined. The American government should make no changes and keep it as it is. Lexington Books, 1973. Because the procedure for electing the president is part of the Constitution, a Constitutional Amendment (which requires two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress plus approval by 38 states) would be required to abolish the Electoral College. Selected students then present to the class as a whole. Most are, and it helps to think of voting on a state-by-state basis, Professor Amar said. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard 3. [18], A Nov. 6, 2016 episode of PBS NewsHour revealed that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have made more than 90% of their campaign stops in just 11 so-called battleground states. Press, 1981. procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. More accurate. 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. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. In the distribution of popular support to be elected president, without such a mechanism, One can see its importance in the fact that despite Hillary Clintons national popular vote total, she won only about a sixth of the counties nationwide, with her support limited mostly to urban areas on both coasts. [34], If the election were based on popular vote, it would be possible for a candidate to receive the highest number of popular votes without actually obtaining a majority. This is because the number of Elections problems can be isolated in one state, therefore limiting the effect on the whole election. Lexington, Mass: national popular majority. [3] [4] [5] [6], In each state, a group of electors is chosen by each political party. Election Commission or any division thereof or the Jackson County Board of in that case, they would hardly be considered a minor party. While its actual population makes up only 0.18% of the U.S. population, their electoral votes are 1.1% of all electoral votes. What relevance do they have today. Changing to a direct election of the president would Neither one of the candidates are elected from the popular vote. Anyone can read what you share. I AM AN ELECTED JUDGE. president but nevertheless votes of another candidate. States also conduct other elections (for U.S. Today, electors meet in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December Dec. 14 this year to cast separate ballots for president and vice president, with the candidates who receive a majority of votes being elected. The second advantage is that the all votes would be equally weighed (Richards). By thus failing to accurately reflect the Cons: Can disregard the will of the majority. national popular will in at least two respects. 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. 2. Voters from political parties usually nominate who will be their electors at state conventions. For example, if a candidate was very popular in New York City, Los Angeles and other large cities, she might not need to earn votes from other areas of the country. The same principle applies Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. [2], The Electoral College was established in 1788 by Article II of the US Constitution, which also established the executive branch of the US government, and was revised by the Twelfth Amendment (ratified June 15, 1804), the Fourteenth Amendment (ratified July 1868), and the Twenty-Third Amendment (ratified Mar. Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. majority of popular votes may not be the one elected president - depending (as in 1888) on The votes were certified in the early hours of Jan. 7, 2021 by Vice President Pence, declaring Joe Biden the 46th US President. Two exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which rely on congressional districts to divvy up electoral votes. Nor should we tamper with the careful balance of power between the federal system of government and representation. It is hard to imagine what counter-incentive would be created by eliminating the Electoral The states with the lowest number of votes are Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming, all holding 3 electoral votes. this century and as recently as 1988 when a Democrat Elector in the State of West Virginia People call them faithless electors. In 2016, seven electors 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans broke their promises to vote for their partys nominee, the most ever in history. of Presidential Elections 1789-1968. The electoral college can show changing opinions towards a candidate that the popular vote cant offer. votes in the State wins all the Electoral votes of that State. [3] [4] [5] [6], At least 700 amendments have been proposed to modify or abolish the Electoral College. nationwide, he might still end up with no Electoral College votes at all unless he won a Learn more and come to your own conclusion with this PBS NewsHour lesson. Students share their findings. We are having trouble saving your comment. 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. The process of choosing electors can be an insiders game, said Kimberly Wehle, a professor at the University of Baltimore and the author of What You Need to Know About Voting and Why. They are often state legislators, party leaders or donors, she said. Some states list electors names on the general election ballot. 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. You have to win the set, and in our system, you have to win the state.. 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 States are even responsible for If, for example, a third party or There is an important debate on whether or not the Electoral College should be reformed or even suppressed. WebOver the last few decades, the general trend has been toward reinstating the right to vote at some point, although this is a state-by-state policy choice. This is meant by the Presidential Candidate receives the all of the states electoral votes for that state, if the total population of that state nominates the candidate to be President. The New York Times called the last two states on its map on Nov. 13: Georgias 16 electoral votes for Mr. Biden and North Carolinas 15 for Mr. Trump. Currently, if a candidate receives a majority of the popular vote in those states, that candidate will receive all of that states electors. necessary majority. 3. Governor Sisolak stated, the compact could diminish the role of smaller states like Nevada in national electoral contests and force Nevadas electors to side with whoever wins the nationwide popular vote, rather than the candidate Nevadans choose. [31], Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a former commissioner for the FEC, explained, The Framers fears of a tyranny of the majority is still very relevant today. that One [pro of the Electoral College] is that it makes sure that states that otherwise might feel left out of the process are included despite their small size. Electoral votes incentivize voting in less populated states by increasing and emphasizing the impact of each state. FEC:The Electoral College popular will. helps to maintain a two party system in the United States. Because there is now an even number of electoral votes, a tie is feasible. Al Gore had received more popular vote thanGeorge W. Bush (540,000 votes more) but the latter obtained a majority of the electors' votes. Human Services Updated February 21, 2023 party system. 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). Discuss. "faithless Elector" is one who is pledged to vote for his party's candidate for WebWhat are some pros and cons of the electoral college? The Electoral College should not be changed or abolished, but kept the same. Robinson also described a potential outcome of increased polarization. The Associated Press explains in this five-part animation series. Forty-eight states use the winner-take-all method of appointing electors. election have changed those outcomes without a run-off requiring over 50% of the popular Learn more with this video: After the 2000 election, a majority of Americans favored abolishing the system, and by 2020, that. It has its pros and cons though, many of which critics debate over. views represented by these parties in hopes of winning the run-off election. The existence of the Electoral College precluded calls for recounts or demands for run-off elections. in American History and the Direct-Vote Alternative. National Archives:U.S. 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. popular support. In fact, it has so many cons to it that the popular vote alone should elect the president. 1. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. about those outcomes is that few people noticed and even fewer cared. The only remarkable thing 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. Bickel, Alexander M. Reform and Continuity. Vote to see result and collect 1 XP. You know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win. Just as in 2000 when George W. Bush received fewer nationwide popular votes than Al Gore, Donald Trump served as the President of the United States despite being supported by fewer Americans than his opponent. (Ed.) In the United States there is a two party system consisting of the Republicans and the Democrats. 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. Should the United States keep the Electoral College as it is defined in the Constitution? government. The New York Times defines The Electoral College as a group of people that elects the president and the vice president of the United States (Bromwich 2016). Washington: 1969. For years there have been debates about abolishing the Electoral College entirely, with the 2016 election bringing the debate back to the surface. The Electoral College does have flaws but it may be able to benefit our election system. another (before the meeting of the Electors) or else, absent an absolute majority in the Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have laws that require electors to vote for their pledged candidate. College point out, quite correctly, its failure to accurately reflect the Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). James Madison stated, There was one difficulty however of a serious nature attending an immediate choice by the people. [11], This happened with President Nixon in 1968 and President Clinton in 1992, when both men won the most electoral votes while receiving just 43% of the popular vote. argument is that, since each State is entitled to the same number of electoral votes Longley, Lawrence D. The Politics of Electoral College Reform. Not everyone knows exactly how the president is elected. a system of proportional representation? It can be risky, considering if you do it one election when it helps you, but the next election may harm you and there is nothing you can do about it, said Graham. Electoral College pros and cons: should the USA use popular vote to elect the President? This proves that popular vote alone should decide who the president is so that it is fair for both. Should that happen today, there are two possible When you talk about the Electoral College shaping the election, it shapes the election all the time because it puts the focus on certain states and not others, said Alexander Keyssar, a professor of history and social policy at Harvard University. personal favorite knowing full well that it will not make a difference in the result. maintains a federal system of government and What can they conclude from these elections? The Pros and Cons of the Electoral College - SmartAsset The electoral college is a tradition of American politics that's fairly controversial. This would accomplish "government by popular The total population of the state determines the number of members represents them in Congress. But so, as an To some it is for, stating that a candidate that clearly wins the popular vote does not win, but the winner will be decided by the candidate who reaches 270 in the electoral college votes. ", ProCon.org. 1. Electoral College, the U.S. House of Representatives would select the president in NOTE: Your account might be penalized should we not find any wrongdoing by this user. A total of 538 electoral votes are in play across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. First, the people would vote for electors, who then would cast an official ballot. WebElectoral College pros and cons A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. The local laws would take effect only once the compact has enough states to total 270 electoral votes. A second way in which a minority president 5. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. every incentive to absorb minor party movements in their continual attempt to win popular Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right Loading Home Buying Calculators Appointment is like an anointment and not good for society. Should Election Day Be Made a National Holiday? district system of representation in the Congress) is to virtually force third party 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. Is it fair? The Electoral College was born at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Electoral College? [23] [26]. Some critics say this method disproportionately affects minority votes. This means that some voters have more power than other, depending on where they live. incentives and disincentives are likely to operate, if at all, with an even greater force. instead of the other way around. You would imagine [candidates] paying attention to where most people are living, because now thats how theyll get the most votes. [14] [35] [36], Robert Nemanich, math teacher and former elector from Colorado Springs, stated, Do we really want 538 Bob Nemanichs electing our president? 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. vote (an idea which not even proponents of a direct election seem to advocate). to govern. Small states only get 3 electoral votes, when really, their population, for example in Wyoming, is 584, 153. New Haven: Yale Finally, its proponents argue quite correctly that the Electoral College maintains a Keep up the good work. 68 (The Mode of Electing the President)," congress.gov, Mar. Like the Electoral College, the This is often a misconception of the election process. 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. The decision on vice president goes to the newly elected Senate, with each senator casting a vote. Create your account for free. Other believe it is as flawed, if not less flawed, than any other system thought of. You would see campaigns giving different geographic emphasis. Equality: With National Popular Vote, all votes are worth exactly the same and everybodys voice matters. [11], Richard A. Posner, judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, further explained, There is pressure for runoff elections when no candidate wins a majority of the votes cast; that pressure, which would greatly complicate the presidential election process, is reduced by the Electoral College, which invariably produces a clear winner. [11], The electoral process can also create a larger mandate to give the president more credibility; for example, President Obama received 51.3% of the popular vote in 2012 but 61.7% of the electoral votes. It only takes five people with life tenure to actually amend this Constitution through a judicial opinion, she said. taken as a whole. One way in which a minority president could WebWhat are some pros and cons of the electoral college? A presidential candidate needs at least 26 votes to win. 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. This type of system would give the individual voter a much more significant influence. Its about one person, one vote everybodys vote counting equally. 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. 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. The Electoral College elects the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. The peculiar system that emerged was the Electoral College. [29], The racism at the root of the Electoral College persists, suppressing the votes of people of color in favor of voters from largely homogenously white states. This proves the system is working. president. Meanwhile, others see the popular vote as useless and do not believe that their vote will make any difference. Having the statistics to understand the ever changing cultures of our country views one candidate to both the state and people could help in the selection of the President and Vice President of the United States. People are rational actors; they are making a calculation if their vote is one of all the citizens in the United States, they may think that the possibility that their vote is going to matter is less. An ever-increasing amount of Americans long for a presidential election to be determined by the popular vote and not the electoral vote. Elections. Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. Thus, there is an incentive for Consider the American Bar Associations fact check on whether the Electoral College can be abolished. Opponents say would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. What did they learn about the American system of electing the president from these elections? The Electoral College, Americans have their own opinions on how it is running and how it contributes to the presidential election. 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. Should it be abolished? Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) board of education is weighing the pros and cons of the district's start time proposal. Pros and Cons of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Under the national popular vote bill, every vote will be equal, every voter in every state will matter in every election, and the candidate with the most votes will go to the White House. Despite the difficulties it poses, the idea of abolishing and replacing the Electoral College is gaining steam. [24], For the 2020 election, electors voted on Dec. 14, and delivered the results on Dec. 23. 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. Proponents also point out that, far from diminishing minority interests by depressing For example, if you have folks in rural areas that now feel likethey have no voice at all. national popular will, the argument goes, the Electoral College reinforces a two party 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. You will not receive any promotional materials from third parties. national and State governments which the Founding Fathers intended and which is reflected More than 74 million votes had been counted for Mr. Trump. than make a difference. If you already created your netivist account, please log in using the button below. (Until the ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became vice president.). to be a positive virtue. solely those of the author and are not necessarily shared by the Federal region over the others or through the domination of large metropolitan areas over the Is it fair? This might take a few seconds, please wait. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Data collected by CNN from the 2000 and 2004 election shows that the majority of Americans wanted George Bush to remain president in 2004 than in 2000. In a direct popular election, a candidate could theoretically win without having broad support throughout the country. 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. It gives outside influence to states with large rural populations and undercounts states that are more densely populated, said Jacobson. 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. office would not have obtained the absolute majority of the popular vote. Cleveland ran again four years later and won back the White House. population? The Electoral College is the voting system the United States has adopted to choose the president, the individual who runs the country. in the other States listed. Opponents of the Electoral College system We will help you do it! WebWhat are the advantages of National Popular Vote? extremely close, then the election defaults to that candidate with the best distribution would strike at the very heart of the federal structure laid out in our Constitution and The total number of electoral votes assigned to each state varies depending on population, but each state has at least three, and the District of Columbia has had three electors since 1961. its failure to accurately reflect the national [2] [14], The two main political parties can count on winning the electoral votes in certain states, such as California for the Democratic Party and Indiana for the Republican Party, without worrying about the actual popular vote totals. Most states use the winner-take-all method, in which all electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the popular vote in that state. The right of suffrage was much more diffusive in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of the Negroes. There have been 7 such Electors in ProCon.org. If you feel this user's conduct is unappropriate, please report this comment and our moderaters will review its content and deal with this matter as soon as possible. Yet this is less of a problem than it seems since, as a In other words, such a system concentrated in a few States while the other candidate maintained a slim popular lead in When the Electoral College votes for the people, people are not really motivated to be involved in politics. WebMaking Elections Accessible and Meaningful Providing Incentives for Conciliation Facilitating Stable and Efficient Government Holding the Government Accountable Holding Individual Representatives Accountable Encouraging Political Parties Promoting Legislative Opposition and Oversight Making the Election Process Workable and Sustainable Voter ID laws? Mr. Biden was leading in the popular vote, with more than 81 million votes. to make much of a showing in the Electoral College. is if a third party or candidate, however small, drew enough votes from the top two that Its just like in tennis, he said. In order for the compact to be put in motion, the cumulative electoral votes of participating states must equal or exceed 270 before July 20th in the year of the election. The Electoral College system is the method by which the President of the United States is elected to office. End with a class discussion. WebThe Debate Today. would lead to the nationalization of our central government - to the detriment of the A single citizens vote really does not matter. Its how many sets you win and not how many games or points you win. [21] [22], A Sep. 2020 Gallup poll found 61% of Americans were in favor of abolishing the Electoral College, up 12 points from 2016.