Electoral College? Do we need it? And why?

Question

In Colorado, this was put on the 06 ballot whether to keep it or split according to the votes. Oddly enough it was not approved, keeping those in the minority vote from getting their votes to count. Why do we have it? Why do we keep it? Why should/shouldn't we get rid of it?

Answer 1

The electoral college was put in place to appease the less-populous states in the early union. Those states feared that in an election where the outcome was determined by a direct count of votes, their small populations would have no voice in determining the outcome. So that if, for instance, 55% of the state of New York voted for the Whig candidate, the state of North Carolina -- even if they all voted for the Federalist candidate -- wouldn't be able to keep the Whig candidate from being elected, because New York had more than 8 times the population of North Carolina.

That was much more of an issue when there were only 13 states than it is with 50 states. Despite the fact that there are still big states with larger populations and small states with less people, the distribution of the population over 50 states is more even, and divided well among the various parties. In fact, in the current electoral vote system, some smaller states such as Ohio actually have an influence on an election that is disproportionate to their population (they get more influence than their population should give).

Personally I think it's an outdated system that should be scrapped. Direct-vote election of our president is a concept whose time has come, and we should finally abandon the old electoral vote system. I do understand the concerns of Colorado, though -- it really only makes sense for them to give it up (as one of the less-populous states) if every other state does as well :)
This needs to be dealt with on a national level.

Answer 2

First, you need to realize that the President of the United States is just that. He presides over the states, not the people. He is elected by the states. The voters vote for electors. Prior to 1913, senators were elected by state legislatures, not the voters of the states. This made them more accountable to the states. It was part of the system of Checks and Balances that has been replaced by Fast Track.

The Electoral College is based on the idea that each state has electors equal to the number of representatives plus two for the two senators. If this extra voting power were not given to the states with small populations, states like California, Illinois, New York and one or two others would control the presidential elections. A candidate would never bother visiting Vermont or other small population states.

The men who wrote the Constitution were a rather well educated lot. For one thing, they weren't victims of the public schools.

Answer 3

We have it because it balances the power of small states vs. large states. That was the reason that it was adopted in 1787, and it's still true today.

Now, as for splitting the electoral vote, that's another kettle of fish. That has everything to do with the power of political parties. If electoral votes are split, that hurts the two major parties and helps third parties, which is why it's very difficult to go to a split-electoral vote system in most states.

Answer 4

The Electoral college would desire to be eradicated...particular, the familiar vote would desire to confirm the President...If it have been that way, Al Gore could have been President in 2000...and Bush in no way could have been... And the Electoral college is the precise reason some human beings do no longer even vote...They experience their vote would not even count huge style by way of fact in the tip, the Electoral votes confirm the President, so as that they think of WHY difficulty balloting... Votes in Rhode Island would desire to count huge style only as much as they do in California or Texas...a million guy or female, a million vote...yet by way of Electoral college, they do no longer...

Answer 5

Its so that no drastic change can happen in our government it to keep the rich very rich and to kept the rest of America what they consider stupid because where poor to keep us poor......They don't want an a blue collar working man as president why do you think it cost so much to run for president

Answer 6

To keep the commies from the west coast and northeastern part of the USA from ruining the country