What is wrong with the electoral college?

electoral college
The Electoral College is the body that carries the vote on who will stand as president of the United States
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About the Electoral College

The Electoral College system has been marred with controversies for a long time. The most recent one was the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the countrywide popular vote by over 2 million but lost on the Electoral College vote to Republican candidate Donald Trump.

After trouncing his main rival, Trump was declared the winner by 74 electoral votes.

Abolition of the Electoral College

This sparked a heated debate among the US nationals, with some advocating for its abolition while others term it good for US politics. The debate is still raging, but no serious progress has been made regarding its repeal or amendment.

That said, let’s look at why the Electoral College is bad in the eyes of the voter and presidential candidates.

Inequality in Vote

Since the Electoral college structure is founded on the levels of population per state and Congress representation, some electorates have a superior ballot than the rest when it comes to delegates. A definite example of this case is Wyoming vs. California.

Although California is more populous than Wyoming, the power of California’s vote is inferior to that of their counterparts by 30 percent. This downside implies that if you reside in =a less populous state like Wyoming, your vote could carry more weight in determining who becomes the president.

No guarantee winning candidate of popular vote becomes president

An example of this is the 2016 US presidential election where Hilary Clinton won the popular vote but lost to Donald Trump on Electoral College. This was not the first time in the US presidential election where a candidate who lost the popular vote was declared the ultimate winner.

The same case applied to George W. Bush, who lost the nationwide vote to Gore but won the electoral college.

The Electoral College neutralizes the majority of the population’s continued dominance over the minority. That makes it pretty confusing to claim that the White House undoubtedly reflects the people’s will.

The Motive Behind Electoral College is No longer Relevant.

The Founding Fathers settled for an Electoral College in the 18th century because information management was significantly different from what it is today.

Americans had to wait for days or weeks to get information on what was happening in the US capital. Presidential candidates traveled to every state to sell their manifestos to electorates. Only through print media and in-person could people learn what is happening in their country.

However, communication has evolved tremendously today, making sharing information much easier and faster. Today, there are several forms of communication that you can use to convey a message instantly. They include email, social media, mobile phone calls, and so on. Everyone can scrutinize this information to tell whether there is any bias in a news story.

It doesn’t live up to its expectation anymore.

Proponents of the Electoral College believed that it would serve its intended purpose despite imperfections. The logic behind the Electoral College was to impede the government’s executive arm from sliding to a person who lacks the required qualifications to lead Americans.

Opponents of the Electoral College claim that the victories of Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan are a demonstration of its loss of relevancy in modern US politics.

It gives some states the upper hand in determining presidential elections

In the 2016 presidential election, the leading candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spent over 70 percent of their campaign time in only 11 states. Nearly 75 percent of those rallies happened in only four states, namely Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina.

Proponents of the Electoral College wanted every state to contribute to the election’s outcome, but this is no longer the case. Instead, the leading candidates put more attention on more populous states.

Also, the structure of the Electoral College dissuades rival candidates from pursuing votes in states perceived as strongholds for their competitors.

Bottom Line

Despite its drawbacks, Electoral College seems it is here to stay. The process to abolish it would necessitate a constitutional change, a lengthy and often impractical process.

Reforming the Electoral College without getting rid of it remains the most effective option in initiating the necessary changes.

What is wrong with the electoral college? Quiz

Why did the Founding Fathers establish the Electoral College?
In the 2016 election, where did candidates spend most of their campaign time?
What was the main controversy in the 2016 US presidential election regarding the Electoral College?
Which president won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote before Donald Trump?
Which communication method did NOT exist when the Electoral College was created?
What is one argument in favor of the Electoral College?
What is the most practical option for changing the Electoral College system?
Which state's voters have more weight per vote compared to California?
Which of the following is a criticism of the Electoral College?
What is required to abolish the Electoral College?

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the controversy surrounding the Electoral College in the 2016 presidential election?

In the 2016 presidential election, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the nationwide popular vote by over 2 million votes but lost the Electoral College vote to Republican candidate Donald Trump, who was declared the winner by 74 electoral votes. This sparked a debate about the fairness and relevance of the Electoral College system.

Why do some people argue that the Electoral College creates inequality in voting power?

The Electoral College is based on population per state and Congressional representation, which means voters in less populous states like Wyoming have more weight per vote compared to voters in more populous states like California. For example, California's vote power is inferior to Wyoming's by 30 percent, leading to unequal influence in determining the president.

Has a candidate ever won the presidency without winning the popular vote?

Yes, this has happened multiple times in U.S. history. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump. Similarly, in 2000, George W. Bush lost the nationwide popular vote to Al Gore but won the Electoral College, becoming president.

Why do opponents argue that the Electoral College is no longer relevant?

Opponents argue that the Electoral College was designed in the 18th century when information dissemination was slow and limited. Today, with modern communication technologies like social media, email, and instant news, the original rationale for the Electoral College—to prevent unqualified leaders—no longer holds, and the system fails to reflect the will of the majority.

How does the Electoral College influence campaign strategies in presidential elections?

The Electoral College leads candidates to focus disproportionately on a few key states. For example, in 2016, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spent over 70% of their campaign time in just 11 states, with nearly 75% of rallies occurring in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. This undermines the original intent of giving every state a fair role in the election outcome.

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