should we let the electors vote or go by the popular vote of the people? i need an answer for debate class.
2006-10-25 08:03:03 · 15 answers · asked by Zori 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
POPULAR VOTE OF THE PEOPLE
2006-10-25 08:04:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Not only should we keep the EC, we should give Senators back to the state legislatures.
The Constitution was written by delegates of the states, not be delegates of the People. The federal government was to be an association of state governments. To prevent more populous areas having more power than smaller states, they created the EC to lessen the influence of large concentrations of population. The EC isn't about the People, it's about the states. Even a casual reading of the Constitution shows that there's nothing in it to require that the People even get any input on who the Electors will be. If a state constitution provided that the state governor had the power to choose them arbitrarily, the Constitution gives no one the authority to say it isn't valid. No, the People should not be given the direct vote in the Constitution.
Moreover, when the Federal Government was created, the House was to give the People representation, and they were to be chosen by popular vote. The Senate was created to give the states a voice as a check against the People wanting something that wasn't healthy or feasible. When the Seventeenth Amendment passed, the states lost their representation in the government they created.
If we did away with the EC, we might as well disband the states. They would serve no further purpose.
2006-10-25 16:10:11 · answer #2 · answered by open4one 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The electoral college has the purpose of giving power to the 'little' states. If we only went by the popular vote, then politicians running for president would only care what people thought in New York, California, Florida, Texas (you get the idea). Worse than that - only the cities in those states.
It is an equalizer for the little states to have some say over the outcome of the election. It's imperfect I know, but there has to be some way to make less populated states important.
good luck
2006-10-25 15:13:02 · answer #3 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We need the electoral college to make things even among the states. Without the electoral college, states with huge population, like California and New York would determine the outcome of the election for the entire country. The electoral college gives smaller states equal power, so all people have a voice.
2006-10-25 15:11:56 · answer #4 · answered by tsopolly 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, because each of the 50 states is a SOVEREIGN state, which AGREED to join the United States. The electoral college system was, is, and always should be part of that agreement. The people of highly populated states are proxied by the House of Representatives, where the number of representatives in each state is determined by the population. State sovereignty is proxied by the Senate, with two senators for each state. What could be more fair or logical?
2006-10-25 17:54:55 · answer #5 · answered by senior citizen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's in the Constitution. Debate that. Anytime someone loses - they want to change the electoral college. Clinton didn't win the popular vote either. Do your own homework!
2006-10-25 15:09:43 · answer #6 · answered by Republican Mom 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It should stay.....As I have said before there are more people in one major US city than in my whole state. I am also sure that those people in the city don't have the same key interests as the people in the rural states like ND, NE, SD, etc. What is does is gives the smaller states and equal say in national matters. That is also the reason we have two houses in congress....one based on population and the other with a set number....to give the smaller states a more equal say. There have been several Pres that have lost the Pop. vote dems and Reps...
2006-10-25 15:27:42 · answer #7 · answered by yetti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tsopolly, the number of electors a state has depends on it’s population, i.e. California has more then Iowa. So I’m not sure your argument works. I think there are reasons to keep the electoral college; I just can’t remember what they are!
2006-10-25 15:15:47 · answer #8 · answered by Wesleystock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Popular vote. Why bother voting if the person who gets the most votes does not win the election?
2006-10-25 15:14:40 · answer #9 · answered by tweeteebrrd 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes. the electoral college should stay.
The current process works fine.
2006-10-25 15:14:49 · answer #10 · answered by lildude211us 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We now have modern technology to skip the electoral college! each of our votes can really count now!
Be rid of the Electroal college!
Lets our votes really be counted!
2006-10-25 15:11:13 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋