Do you think the electoral college is necessary in the current day and age?

Question

also do you think it should be abolished

Answer 1

It wasn't devised to cheat. It had a great deal more to do with the fact that so many were under-educated about candidates and issues.

Do I think we need it any longer? Not in its current incarnation. I think that the electoral votes should be divided within the states--no strictly blue or red states.

Answer 2

The purpose of the electoral college is not to cheat. The reason the electoral college was put into the constitution by the founding fathers was to make it impossible for some one to become elected president without the consent of a majority of the states. This was especially important early on because there was not the wide spread communication. Many believe that in the modern television age the Electoral College has outlived its usefulness but the modern television age is actually the reason it cannot be abolished. If we abolished the electoral college candidates would no longer need to worry about campaigning in all states, a candidate for president would only need to campaign in a hand-full of states. The ones with the greatest population densities. The electoral college actually insures that a vote from some one in New Mexico, Montana and Wyoming is as important as a vote from someone in NY, CA, TX, FL, NJ, MA, MD.

Answer 3

The electoral college still holds to its established purpose. Granted there has been a few moments of surprise where the Electoral College didn't match the Popular Vote but those events are very rare.

The point of the Electoral College is that each state has an opportunity to make a difference. Without it, going strickly off the Popular Vote a party could come out and promise "No taxes for California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois" and assuming every person in those states voted for that ticket their numbers would be greater than the rest of the US combined. Instead we have a system that made New Mexico, one of the smallest and the poorest state in the nation and its issues relevent to the national situation.

Besides if we want to change the system let's work on keeping the elections honest FIRST, then we can debate overhauling the rest.

Answer 4

In a republic the idea is the best and brightest serve the interests of the masses. The electoral college hasn't failed, nor has the republic. American citizens have unprecedented access to the polls and government. As a nation, we have chosen apathy over action. The electors have not selected a different outcome in recent memory.

With Bush/Gore, the electors voted as their states instructed. Since only Maine splits electors, a 48% to 52% Bush vote will leave 48% unhappy with the result.

Having an electoral college allows the states representation based on population. This is a positive since we live in a nation where the states are allowed to exercise greater power than in any other nation. A straight popular vote would actually hurt more than it would help. Lesser populated areas would be underrepresented to a much greater degree.

Answer 5

The original purpose of the electoral college has nothing to do with the "current day and age," or for that matter the day and age in which it was established. Nor did it really have anything to do with uneducated voters. The purpose was to protect the interest of the small states, pure and simple. That hasn't changed.

That is also, by the way, the reason for the US Senate. States are proportionally represented in the House, but each state only gets 2 seats in the Senate. Same logic.

So, if you want to get rid of the electoral college (because you're still upset that Bush beat Gore 6 years ago [in which case, get over it!], or for any other reason), then to be consistent in your politics, I would expect you to advocate for the eradication of the Senate!

Answer 6

Yes, it is necessary and needed. With out it the small states would get walked on by the bigger ones. we would have a regional president and not a national president. Point in fact, South Carolina. They have not had a major democratic campaign there in a while because they don't have the electoral college votes to make them important enough for the democrats to care. So what is important to that state is pushed off to the side.

Our founding fathers never wanted one group to get too much power and be able to force its will on others who do not want it. That is why the electoral college is important. All states must be catered too, not just the population centers. Basically what is good for New York might not be good for the nation so New York should never get the ability to dictate foreign policy by itself.

Answer 7

It should be abolished. In the state that I live in, the votes have always been for Republican candidates even though after numerous polls the popular vote has been for a Democratic candidate. The electoral college in many places is made up of people that tradionally are either Republican or Democrat, leaving the popular vote to be basically meaningless.

Answer 8

No the electoral college was formed because people did not go to school nor did they read the papers. 230 years ago most of the population was not informed enough to cast an intelligent vote. Now a days with 24 hour news channels and public education I think every vote should be counted.

Answer 9

No, it should be abolished. I think it's a crying shame that the popular vote doesn't elect our president. They are telling us, we the people don't have enough common sense to elect the right person for the job. The electoral college is telling me they don't either.

Answer 10

The electoral college serves a purpose. It makes it so that the presidential race isn't a mere popularity contest and that the candidates must appeal to the people of many regions.