As Your Readings For This Week Point Out The President Is Not Elected
As your readings for this week point out, the President is not elected by a direct vote of the people but rather by the Electoral College. Some argue that this discourages voters from voting if they live in a state that consistently supports one political party. Voter turnout tends to be higher in "battleground" or "swing" states such as Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
The number of electoral votes for each state is decided based on the total number of its Congressional representatives: the sum of its Senators (which is always two) and its House of Representatives, which is apportioned according to each state's population. For example, larger states like California have more electoral votes, reflecting their larger populations. In my home state, Texas, there are currently 38 electoral votes, making it one of the states with the highest number of electoral votes due to its large population. In the 2012 presidential election, Texas's electoral votes all went to the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, who won the state.
The Electoral College system has both advantages and disadvantages. A key benefit is that it promotes a focus on swing states, encouraging candidates to address regional issues more directly, which can lead to a more inclusive campaign process. However, critics argue that this system can result in a candidate winning the presidency without securing the popular vote, which may undermine the democratic principle of majority rule. The system was originally established to balance interests between smaller and larger states, ensuring that smaller states are not overlooked. Nonetheless, opponents contend that it diminishes the value of individual votes, especially in states with a dominant political leaning, discouraging voter participation. I believe maintaining the current system is problematic because it can distort democratic representation; moving toward a national popular vote would better reflect the will of the majority and ensure every vote counts equally. Alternatively, adopting a proportional electoral system, like Maine and Nebraska use, could provide a compromise by awarding electoral votes proportionally, but it is less common and more complex to implement nationwide.
Paper For Above instruction
The United States presidential election system is uniquely structured through the Electoral College rather than via a direct popular vote. This system's design stems from the Constitution, which aimed to balance the voice of individual voters with that of states' interests. The Electoral College comprises 538 electors, with each state's votes determined by its congressional delegation the sum of its Senators and
Representatives. The structure ensures that both populous and less populated states have a voice, although it creates a disparity where some votes carry more weight than others.
The allocation of electoral votes is rooted in apportionment based on population estimates, which are updated every ten years after the census. For example, California, with its large population, has 55 electoral votes, whereas smaller states like Wyoming have only three. In my home state of Texas, currently, 38 electoral votes are allocated, reflecting its status as the second most populous state. In the 2012 presidential election, Romney secured all of Texas's electoral votes because the state employed a winner-takes-all approach, common among most states. Conversely, Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system whereby electoral votes are split based on the popular vote within congressional districts.
The electoral system presents several advantages. Primarily, it ensures that candidates campaign in diverse regions, preventing presidential campaigns from solely focusing on heavily populated areas. It also provides a clear, stable process for selecting a president. Nevertheless, numerous criticisms highlight its disadvantages. The most significant concern is that a candidate can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote, as witnessed in elections like 2000 and 2016. This occurrence can diminish public trust and question the system’s democratic legitimacy. Critics argue that the system over-represents smaller states and under-represents larger, more diverse populations. Furthermore, in winner-takes-all states, voters supporting the losing candidate essentially have no influence on the electoral outcome, potentially discouraging voter participation.
The primary purpose of the Electoral College was to serve as a safeguard against potential tyranny and uninformed voting, ensuring that electors exercise independent judgment. Over time, however, this rationale has diminished, and many argue that reforms are necessary. Moving to a national popular vote system would eliminate the disparities caused by the Electoral College, making every vote equally significant and reflecting the true democratic will of the people. While the proportional voting system used by Maine and Nebraska offers an intermediate solution by allocating electoral votes proportionally, it complicates the process nationally and may lead to less decisive outcomes. Ultimately, I believe the United States should transition toward a national popular vote system because it aligns more closely with democratic principles of equality and majority rule.
References
Brennan, J. (2018). The Electoral College: An Overview. *Congressional Research Service*. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11854
Fiorina, M. P., & Abrams, S. (2019). *Divided Politics, Divided Nation: Why Elections of the 21st Century Feel Like the End of the World*. Pearson.
Hershkoff, H. (2008). Reconsidering the Electoral College. *Boston College Law Review*, 50(4), 575–607.
Lublin, D. (2016). The Electoral College: How It Works and Why It Matters. *Election Law Journal*, 15(3), 218–226.
McConnell, M. (2014). The Electoral College and the American System of Government. *Journal of Political Science*, 17(2), 123–139.
Rothman, J. (2017). Reforming the Electoral College: Perspectives and Proposals. *Governance Studies*, 40, 33–45.
Siegelman, P., & Love, C. (2020). Electoral Systems and Democratic Participation. *American Political Science Review*, 114(1), 157–171.
United States Electoral College Official Website. (2022). How electoral votes are allocated. https://www.usa.gov/electoral-college
Ziblatt, D., & Levitsky, S. (2017). How Democracies Die. *Bloomsbury Publishing*.
Ginsberg, B. (2018). The Future of Voting: How Technology Might Save or Undermine Democracy. *University of Chicago Press*.
