American Elections always tie worldwide attention due to their unusual approach to voting. The crucial element making them engaging is the Electoral College – the system where each state selects voters who represent citizens’ choice. That unique approach was established in 1787 as the nation’s founders’ intention to form powerful political parties that did not rely solely on popular majorities or Congress (Waller, 2020). Electoral College influenced Donald Trump’s victory in 2016: the president got more electors while Hilary Clinton won by the number of popular votes. Although many people believe that the system is not applicable and even harmful for the modern country with far more states and citizens than it had in 1787, I disagree. Clearly, abolishing the Electoral College would not solve election issues because it helps maintain the balance between the parties and motivates politicians to run campaigns beneficial for the United States’ development.
To begin with, the Electoral College exists for more than two centuries and was established to provide all states with equal authority. Kusler and Matthews (2019) state that: “majorities should not have unchecked ability to impose their will just as each branch of government should be checked and held in balance” (para. 3). For example, California, with 55 votes, is larger in population than the 21 smallest states combined, yet they get 92 votes – more than a third of the number required to win. In the case with no Electoral College, the states’ identities will erase, and the competition between democratic and republican parties that is crucial for American culture will be lost. Indeed, the system that regulated elections throughout history is crafted to be effective, particularly for the United States, and must be valued.
Moreover, the demand for winning on a state-by-state basis forces candidates to establish campaigns that might help solve many countries’ issues. For instance, Shockley-Zalabak et al. (2019) claim that “the importance of terrorism/national security in swing states and Trump’s trust advantage on that issue contributes to understanding the Electoral College vote” (p. 857). Indeed, As the campaigns determine the future president’s policy foundation, that evidence shows how the United States can deal with the weak points.
However, many people consider Election College as ineffective and support its abolishment. The Republicans, who are represented mostly by less populous, rural states, have more voters in total and might benefit during the elections (Waller, 2020). A perfect example of this is Donald Trump’s victory at 2016’s presidential elections, where he got 57% of the votes (Waller, 2020). Although that evidence proves the citizens’ argument to override the Election College, the latest 2020’s elections were won by Democrats regardless of the allocation of voting power between states and parties. Clearly, any decision towards the electing system updates should be based on benefits neither for Republicans nor for Democrats.
In conclusion, the United States’ political and election systems were established to serve the country, and they remain successful in it based on the improvements that occur with every new president. The Election College provides the states with equal voting power and makes candidates search for solutions to the country’s critical problems to run winning campaigns. Moreover, the system maintains the discussion between Democrats and Republicans that is historically and culturally important for the United States. Each election race is being watched worldwide, and many people believe that such an approach as the Election College is crucial for objective political decision-making.
References
Kusler, D & Matthews, M. (2019). PRO/CON: Should Congress base Electoral College on popular vote? Newsela. Web.
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Shockley-Zalabak, P. S., Morreale, S. P., & Stavrositu, C. (2019). Voters’ perceptions of trust in 2016 presidential candidates, Clinton and Trump: Exploring the election’s outcome. American Behavioral Scientist, 63(7), 856-887. Web.
Waller, A. (2020). The Electoral College explained. The New York Times. Web.