Abolition of the Electoral College

Definition

The abolition of the Electoral College refers to the movement to eliminate the system established by the U.S. Constitution for electing the president and vice president. This system involves electors from each state casting votes based on the outcome of their state's popular vote. Critics argue that the Electoral College undermines the principle of one-person, one-vote and can lead to situations where the candidate who wins the popular vote does not become president, raising questions about democratic legitimacy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Electoral College was created in 1787 as a compromise between electing the president by a vote in Congress and by popular vote.
2. Currently, there are 538 electoral votes in total, and a candidate needs a majority of 270 to win the presidency.
3. Several states have adopted laws that pledge their electors to vote for the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote, although this is not uniform across all states.
4. Abolition of the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment, which is a challenging process needing two-thirds support in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
5. Critics of the Electoral College argue it disproportionately favors smaller states and leads to campaign strategies that focus on swing states rather than national issues.

Review Questions

• How does the abolition of the Electoral College align with democratic principles and what challenges does it face?
  • Abolishing the Electoral College aligns with democratic principles by promoting direct representation through the popular vote, ensuring that each person's vote carries equal weight in electing a president. However, it faces significant challenges, including political resistance from those benefiting from the current system and the difficulty of passing a constitutional amendment, which requires substantial bipartisan support. Additionally, there are concerns about how such a change would impact electoral strategies and representation across diverse states.
• What are some arguments for and against maintaining the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections?
  • Proponents of maintaining the Electoral College argue it protects the interests of smaller states and prevents a few populous areas from dominating presidential elections. They contend it encourages candidates to campaign in a variety of regions. In contrast, opponents argue that it undermines democratic principles by allowing a candidate to win without securing a majority of the popular vote. They also highlight how it incentivizes candidates to focus on swing states at the expense of broader national concerns, thereby limiting engagement with diverse voter bases.
• Evaluate the potential implications for American democracy if the Electoral College were abolished.
  • Abolishing the Electoral College could significantly reshape American democracy by fostering greater voter engagement and ensuring that every vote counts equally nationwide. It might encourage presidential candidates to develop platforms addressing national issues rather than tailoring their campaigns to specific battleground states. However, this shift could also raise concerns about how different regions are represented in future elections, potentially leading to tensions between urban and rural voters as campaign dynamics evolve. The overall impact would depend on how well voters adapt to this new system and whether their interests remain adequately represented.

Related terms

Popular Vote: The total number of votes cast by citizens in an election, which reflects the direct preferences of the electorate.

Electoral Votes: Votes allocated to each state based on its representation in Congress, which are used to determine the outcome of presidential elections.

Constitutional Amendment: A formal change or addition to the Constitution, which is necessary for abolishing the Electoral College as it is currently established.