what do you think of the electoral college voting system?

Question

I personally think it's an inaccurate way of counting votes. What's your opinion?
Serious answers please. Thanks!

Answer 1

Here is an example to why I dislike it: (this is all hypothetical and madeu p)

Large State with 50 electoral college votes and only 50 people vote. Candidate 1 gets 30 votes, Candidate 2 gets 20. Candidate 2 wins the state.

Small state with 20 electoral college votes and 75 people vote.
Candidate 1 gets 25 votes. Candidate 2 gets 50. Candidate 1 wins the state.

In the the end, all together, Candidate 1 has 55 and candidate 2 has 70. Obviously more Americans like Candidate 1.

However, Candidate 2 wins overall because of electoral college votes.

Total crap.

Answer 2

It's old fashioned, almost like a aristocratic body. I totally agree with you that not all votes are counted but there's one thing you forgot: it protects the two-party system. Why in hell would we still want a two-party system? Except for the tough times like WWI, WWII, Great Depression, post 9/11, etc. it's been very unfair to our voters. That's why I think we should stop saying "oh, we're at war and it's better not to modify it" or something. I think it all depends on if we get rid of the Electoral College or not. I've been doing research about proposals for Electoral College reform and even came up with my own proposal (it's a secret and I have a copyright in case somebody tries to steal it). Let's face the fact that we'll be lucky if we can modify the Electoral College. Unless we have a complete revolution during an election and we forget about the whole wasted vote, spoiler effect and lesser of two evils manias and decide to elect a strong 3rd party or two, we must start gradually. It would be great to have a national election using IRV where the Pres gets at least 50% +1 of the votes but with the scum we have in Congress, we should settle for modifying it. By the way, www.fairvote.org mentions past proposals for the EC. We need to return to being a democracy quick and the only way we can do it is by voting 3rd party or independent and drive the duopoly crazy.

Answer 3

I disagree with the electoral college because I live in a state where my vote almost never counts. I live in Texas, which almost always goes Republican, and so my vote as a Democrat or Independent has little impact on the election. I imagine Republicans in New York and Massachusetts feel much the same way. It also means that my state is usually ignored by the parties.

Removing the electoral college would mean the candidates would have to campaign across the entire country. It would also give independent candidates a better chance. I believe it should be removed or revised.

Answer 4

It's outdated. It's not fair that a candidate gets to carry a whole state if he/she gets just a few more votes than any of the other candidates. I want my vote going for the candidate I chose and not wasted when it ends up in the minority - otherwise, if you want your vote to "count," you have to somehow correctly anticipate which candidate will get the most votes in your state.....but you end up "choosing" someone you don't want instead of voting your conscience, which ruins the spirit of the voting process.

Answer 5

It is a part of Federalism, and we need more of this not less these days. It ensures each state has a voice and the national elections cannot be won by pandering to the majority. Every state has to be listened to, so the concerns of Minnesota are shared with those of California or Kentucky.

Answer 6

It is very necessary.....It keepst the balance between the bigger states and the smaller....There are more people in one major US city than in my whole state....and I am sure the intrestes of those people are not the same as mine....even though my state is just as important....that is why the college is there, also why one house of congress is based on population, and the other with a set number....keeps the playing field a little even.

Answer 7

It gives smaller states a bigger voice than they other wish would have. This was one thing that it as set up to do. It helps prevent the larger population center form controlling the president election.
Why is this good? What is good for LA and CA may not be good for ND and SD.

Answer 8

Teh Electoral College System was designed to add another layer of protection to the people, to attempt to minimize the corruption our Founding Fathers envisioned likely. (History has an ugly way of repeating itself.)

Answer 9

Well, after the 2000 elections, it showed how archaic the system is. I don't think it's accurate and it's kinda pointless. You should just win by popular vote. It doesn't make sense that someone could win by popular vote, but lose by electoral college (which is someone arbitrary), then lose the election.

Answer 10

I thought much the same as you did, but then I decided to do some research on the way it actually works, and I've got to tell you, I am now convinced that its a much needed program that I will never want to see go away.