The Electoral College is a system used to elect the President and Vice President of the United States, but it has been a topic of controversy for various reasons. This article highlights ten reasons why the Electoral College is controversial. One of the most controversial aspects of the Electoral College is that the winner of the popular vote can lose the presidency. Unequal representation can create a lack of political representation, and small states can have an unreasonable amount of power. The Electoral College can lead to a lack of attention to certain states, voter suppression, and discourage third-party candidates. It can also lead to a lack of mandate and unfairness. While some advocate for reform or abolishing the Electoral College altogether, others argue that it is an integral part of American democracy.
1. Introduction
The Electoral College is a system used to elect the President and Vice President of the United States, which entails electors being chosen by the state senate or legislature, and then those electors go on to vote for the President and Vice President. Although the Electoral College has been in operation since the founding of the United States, it has been a topic of controversy for various reasons. In this article, we will discuss ten reasons why the Electoral College is controversial.
2. The Winner of the Popular Vote Can Lose the Presidency
One of the most controversial aspects of the Electoral College is that the winner of the popular vote can lose the presidency. This has occurred five times in the history of the United States, with the most recent being the 2016 election. In that election, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote, and thus became President.
3. It Can Create a Lack of Political Representation
Because the Electoral College assigns certain numbers of electors to each state, there can be an imbalance in political representation. This means that voters in less populous states have more political power than voters in more populated states. For example, Wyoming, which has a population of just over half a million, has three electors, while California, with a population of almost 40 million, has just 55 electors.
4. Small States Can Have an Unreasonable Amount of Power
A byproduct of the unequal representation mentioned above is that small states can have an unreasonable amount of power over the outcome of the election. This is because the winner-take-all system used by most states gives all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. This can grant a disproportionately large amount of importance to swing states with relatively small populations, such as Iowa or New Hampshire.
5. The Electoral College Can Lead to a Lack of Attention to Certain States
Because the Electoral College focuses on swing states, many candidates choose to concentrate their resources there rather than focusing on states that are not likely to be in play. This means that voters in certain states can feel like their votes don’t matter since candidates might not visit or spend much money in their state.
6. The Electoral College Can Lead to Voter Suppression
In some cases, the Electoral College can lead to voter suppression. If a party feels that they are unlikely to win a state and the election is close, they may choose not to allocate resources to get out the vote. This can mean that some voters are unable to cast their ballots, either because they are not registered or because there is a lack of access to voting.
7. The Electoral College Can Discourage Third-Party Candidates
The Electoral College can be a barrier to entry for third-party candidates who face significant difficulties in obtaining the requisite number of Electoral College votes to win the presidency. This can discourage some third-party candidates from running, limiting the choices available to voters.
8. The Electoral College Can Lead to a Lack of Mandate
Because the winner of the Electoral College can be different from the winner of the popular vote, it can lead to a lack of mandate for the President. This means that the President might not have the support of a significant portion of the country, leading to more divisiveness and less political will to accomplish significant policy goals.
9. The Electoral College Can Lead to Unfairness
The Electoral College is subject to manipulation and unfairness. For example, some states have chosen to allocate their electors in a way that does not accurately reflect the will of the voters in the state. In addition, the winner-takes-all system can lead to a scenario in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state does not receive all of that state’s electoral votes, leading to an outcome that is not truly reflective of the popular will.
10. Conclusion
The Electoral College is a controversial system for electing the President and Vice President of the United States. Critics point to various issues, ranging from the possibility of the winner of the popular vote losing the election to a lack of political representation for some voters. While some advocate for reform or abolishing the Electoral College altogether, others argue that it is an integral part of American democracy. Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, it is essential to maintain a robust dialogue about the Electoral College’s usefulness in modern times.