Why do we tolerate the electoral college?

Question

Our country was supposedly built by and for the people. If this is true, then what has happened? We are encouraged to vote by many organizations that say our vote counts, but does it really? No matter what I or any other registered voter decides on can be over ruled. In a democracy, which the United States claims to be, each citizen has a right to have an equal share of the vote, but when we have to elect someone that we hope will respect our votes what is the point. Votes are counted anyway to determine what the electoral college should vote for or against, so why don't our votes just count. What I really want to know is why do we use these systems that have failed so many times in history? If everyone agreed to Vietnam or the "War on Terror", then why did so many people protest it? Will we ever change to be more understanding of individual rights rather than signing our opinions away to someone we don't even know?

Answer 1

Because most Americans are not truly engaged in the political process and might be induced to vote by some form of coersion. Besides, they usually work out the same as the popular vote anyway, except for the dead Democrats who vote in Chicago.

Answer 2

We have the Electoral College because we have a "Representative Republic" - which is a democratic form of government where the people select the Legislative Branch (Congress) through popular vote - and then they vote on the issues for us. To balance the powers of the different branches, The Executive Branch (President/Vice President) are selected through the use of the electoral college because they represent the country as a whole, not just an individual state of congressional district. The only way for that to work is to make sure the more populated states won't bull-doze over the less populated ones with whatever hair-brained crap happens to be popular on the east and west coasts at the time. Since the Electoral College is equal to the number of Congressmen and Senators from each state (which is determined as 1 per 50000 citizens in the case of the congressmen and then 2 per state in the case of Senators), it is still weighted to favor the states that have more people but not so much that the interests of the less populated states are not represented. Personally, I don't have time to research every bill that needs to be voted on by our legislature so, if you want to live in a "Democracy" then buy an Island and start your own country because I have news for you - there are no "True" Democracies. As to the other part of your rant, the reason so many people protested Vietnam, and the War on Terror is because they disagreed with them, that is their way of trying to influence the decisions our government will make. My advise - take a high-school level civics class.

Answer 3

Since you asked-- Look at why the EC was set up the way it was.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/index.html

Now taking all that into consideration (IF you bothered to read it all), I would make a suggestion or two. Instead of making the EC votes a winner takes all why not do a percentage allocation of each states EC votes. Right now we only have two major political parties and as long as it's winner takes all there is little chance of developing a third or fourth significant party. Also a prime reason voter turnout is so low is people in a heavily red or blue state who are in the minority see little reason to get out and vote in Presidential elections. They feel their effort to vote is wasted.

Keep the present EC vote allocation. It keeps the less populated states in play and gives a better representation of votes cast in the more populated states. Case in point: In NY, CA, FL, IL, MA, PE, OH, and NJ. All the voters in those states didn't vote Democrat or Republican yet the person who garnered the most votes in each of those states got ALL the EC votes. Was that fair? NO I don't think so. But that is the rules. Don't complain about the EC. Complain about the rules concerning the EC.

Answer 4

Because if we used the popular vote to elect the president then 5 states would be the ones choosing the President every time. The Electoral College system ensures that all voices get heard - not just those of the people in the big cities.

Answer 5

The portion of our government elected by popular vote is the legislature..... All 3 branches of government are supposed to be chosen in different ways. Hence popular vote for the legislature, electoral college for the executive, and appointment and confirmation for the judiciary.

The electoral college has aspects of the popular vote within each state. The state is then empowered with the electoral college process so that each state has a SAY in the matter. Otherwise, the states such as Wisconsin, Idaho, etc would never truly have a voice in government in terms of the election of the President.

Answer 6

We use it because when the Constitution was created by the Continental Congess many of the members didn't trust the common people to make political decisions for such a fragile nation. It became part of our voting system. Why change something that has worked for 200+ years is the argument, but we don't live in the 1700's anymore so of course change must be made to accomadate a changing nation. There is interest in getting rid of the electoral college, but it isn't happening soon. I don't think we should keep it.

Answer 7

we do not tolerate it, we basically adhere to the prevailing regulations. I argue that the 2000 election did precisely what it become meant to do. The electors voted, depending on the criteria of the regulation, and chosen the president. the guy that had the most electoral votes received. all of us knew that this can take position with our device,(in reality, it has handed off 3 different cases) yet very few complained till this time. nicely, i'm particular many complained then. yet, of direction that did not spur adequate pastime to reform the device. the guidelines are regulations and may't be molded and twisted after the election. If adequate human beings settle on to regulate the rule of thumb, then it really is going to be carried out nicely beforehand of a presidential race, no longer accurate this second after one.

Answer 8

The popular vote pretty much is the same as the electoral votes. In RARE instances, it COULD vary, but not usually. MORE people need to get off their lazy duffs and go to the polls. If everyone who is able to vote did, maybe we COULD change a few things. I despise someone who sits and bit***s about the gov't and never goes to the polls. I won't waste my time listening to them.

Answer 9

Does anybody pay attention to how many times this question has been asked and answered in the last week?

Answer 10

MAN U HAVE A POINT THERE I AM WITH YOU ALL THE WAY KICK IT IN THE BOOTY AND PROTEST IT ILL HELP U~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~