Introduction
The Electoral College is a unique feature of the American electoral system that has been in use since the country’s founding. It involves electors from each state casting votes for presidential candidates, with the contestant who garners a majority of electoral votes clinching the presidency. While the system has its strengths, its weaknesses have led many to question whether it is an antiquated relic of the past that needs to be abolished. In this essay, I will thoroughly describe the system and procedures of the Electoral College, its advantages and disadvantages, and how they can be refined. Ultimately, I will argue that while the Electoral College has some value within modern democracy, it is in dire need of reform.
The Electoral College
Structure
The Electoral College system is structured so that each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its number of Senators and Representatives in Congress. There are 538 electors, with each state having several electors proportional to its population. The winning candidate must have at least 270 votes (Lacy 18). During the election, eligible voters in each state exercise their right to vote for their preferred presidential candidate by casting their secret ballots. The presidential candidate who garners the most votes in a particular state is awarded all the electoral votes for that state.
Benefits
One of the strengths of the Electoral College is that it provides a more balanced distribution of power across states. Small states are not ignored by presidential candidates who focus only on the large states, as each state has a voice in the election proportional to its population. The Electoral College enables candidates to build broad coalitions of support nationwide, encouraging them to campaign in diverse regions and demographics, rather than focusing solely on highly populated urban areas. This helps promote a more inclusive political process and ensures that candidates are responsive to the diverse range of needs and concerns of citizens.
Furthermore, the Electoral College helps prevent fraud and corruption in presidential elections by giving each state control over its election process. The system ensures that no single entity can manipulate the election outcome. Electoral votes are distributed based on the popular vote winner in each state, which is determined by the state’s election laws and procedures. This helps to maintain the integrity of the election process and ensures that the outcome is fair and legitimate (Lacy 16). The Electoral College provides stability and predictability in the presidential election process. This helps to reduce uncertainty and ensures that the transition of power from one administration to the next is smooth and orderly.
Limitations
While the Electoral College has its strengths, it is not without its flaws. One major weakness of the Electoral College is that it can result in a candidate securing the presidency despite losing the popular vote. This is because the contender who obtains a majority of popular votes in a state is automatically allocated all the state’s electoral votes. Therefore, a candidate could potentially win the presidency by securing the electoral vote, even if they did not win the majority of the popular vote nationwide.
Another weakness of the Electoral College is that it can discourage voter turnout in states considered safe for one political party or the other. If a voter lives in a state where one party has a clear advantage, they may feel that their vote does not matter and choose not to participate in the election. This can lead to a lack of engagement and participation in the democratic process, which is not ideal for a healthy democracy.
Historical Significance and Modern Reforms
While the Electoral College has its strengths and weaknesses, it is a system that has been in place for a long time. For over 200 years, the Electoral College has been a crucial component of American democracy (Zhan et al. 26). Nevertheless, there are opportunities to enhance the system to better reflect the will of the American people. Potential reforms include implementing a proportional allocation of electoral votes based on the popular vote or abolishing the Electoral College altogether, opting for a national popular vote.
The system has weaknesses that inspire opposition from different stakeholders. One of the most significant flaws of the Electoral College is that it allows candidates to secure the presidency even if they receive fewer votes in the popular vote. This has happened on five occasions in American history, most recently in 2016, when Hillary Clinton garnered the most popular votes but lost to Donald Trump, who secured the Electoral College vote (Lacy 10).
Several reforms have been proposed to improve the Electoral College. One proposition is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would secure the presidency to the contestant who wins the popular vote (Lacy 14). Under this proposal, states would guarantee that they apportion their electoral votes to the candidate who secures the national popular vote, irrespective of who wins their state. Another proposal is to replace the winner-takes-all system with one that awards electoral votes proportionally per each state’s popular vote (Lacy 14). This would ensure all voters, even those who supported the losing candidate, have a voice in the election.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Electoral College needs reform. The winner-takes-all system and the possibility of an individual clinching the presidency despite losing the popular vote create a situation where the people’s will is not always reflected in the election’s outcome. By implementing reforms such as the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or a proportionate allotment of electoral votes, the Electoral College could be improved to better serve the needs of American voters.
Works Cited
Lacy, Michael G. “Black Frankenstein in D’Souza’s 2016: Obama’s America.” Critical Studies in Media Communication (2023): 1-21.
Zhan, Zishu, and Yuhong Yang. “Profile electoral college cross-validation.” Information Sciences 586 (2022): 24-40.