THE PERNICIOUS ELECTORAL COLLEGE MUST BE ELIMINATED

The Pernicious Electoral College: A Tool for Undermining Democracy

The Electoral College is one of the most contentious features of the American political system. Its origins trace back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the Founding Fathers debated how to elect the President of the United States best. While some delegates favored direct popular vote, others feared that a pure democracy could lead to the tyranny of the majority. Thus, the Electoral College was conceived as a compromise—a system designed to balance the influence of populous and less populous states and to provide a buffer against the potential dangers of direct democracy.

Historical Context and Purpose

The Electoral College was included in the Constitution for several key reasons:

1. Compromise between Large and Small States: Smaller states were concerned that larger states would overshadow their interests if the President were elected by direct popular vote. The Electoral College system gives smaller states a slightly disproportionate influence by providing each state the number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress.
2. Concerns about Direct Democracy: The Founding Fathers were wary of direct democracy, fearing that the general populace might not be well-informed enough to make sound decisions. They believed that an intermediary body of electors would be better equipped to choose a suitable candidate for the presidency.
3. Protection against Regional Candidates: The Electoral College was intended to ensure that presidential candidates had to gain broad support across the country rather than focusing solely on the most populous regions.
4. Slave States’ Influence: Another less noble reason was the protection of the interests of slave-holding states. The infamous Three-Fifths Compromise allowed states to count slaves as three-fifths of a person to apportion representation and electors, giving Southern states more political power than if only the free population were counted.

The Electoral College in Practice

While the Electoral College may have been conceived with some legitimate concerns, its application over the centuries has revealed significant flaws. The system has led to several instances where the candidate who won the popular vote did not become President, most notably in the elections of 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. These outcomes have sparked debates about the fairness and democratic nature of the Electoral College.

The Threat to Democracy

Recently, the Electoral College has been criticized as a tool that can be exploited to undermine democratic principles. Here are some ways in which it poses a threat:

1. Disproportionate Influence: States with smaller populations disproportionately influence presidential elections. For example, a voter in Wyoming significantly impacts the outcome more than a voter in California. This undermines the principle of "one person, one vote."
2. Swing State Focus: Presidential campaigns tend to focus disproportionately on so-called "swing states"—states that could reasonably be won by either major party. This means that voters in non-swing states often feel ignored and disenfranchised.
3. Potential for Manipulation: Most states' winner-takes-all approach can lead to significant disparities between the popular vote and the electoral vote. Gerrymandering and other tactics can manipulate this system to skew results in favor of one party.
4. Erosion of Democratic Norms: The Electoral College can be exploited to entrench minority rule. When the system enables a candidate who did not win the popular vote to assume the presidency, it raises questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process and can erode trust in democratic institutions.

Toward a More Democratic System

The Electoral College, designed in an era vastly different from our own, increasingly appears anachronistic. To safeguard democracy, it is imperative to consider reforms that reflect contemporary values and realities. Proposals include moving to a direct popular vote for the presidency, implementing ranked-choice voting, or distributing electoral votes proportionally based on the popular vote within each state.

Reforming or abolishing the Electoral College would not be easy, requiring a constitutional amendment or significant legislative changes at the state level. However, to preserve and strengthen democracy, it is essential to address how this system can be used to subvert the will of the people and pave the way for undemocratic regimes.

In conclusion, while originally intended to balance interests and prevent rash decisions, the Electoral College has become a contentious and problematic feature of American democracy. It is crucial to re-examine this institution and strive for an electoral system reflecting the democratic ideals upon which the nation was founded.

Top of Form