Is an Electoral College a good idea?

Question

Is it a fair way to choose a president? We are discussing in my American History Class, and I want opinions!

Answer 1

Yes, it is fair. Not necessarily the best way, but it is fair.

It gives smaller states an actual say in government, something which wouldn't happen in a pure "popular" vote.

Answer 2

Actually, the Electoral College is the fairest way to choose a President. There are States that are trying to violate the Constitution by passing laws where the majority vote nationally will get the Electoral College for that State. Once this occurs than all we will get is the Presidential candidates going to the large cities and ignoring everyone else. How would the center of our Country fair if all of the elected Presidents cared about was the more populated coastal areas? What would happen to the farms and small towns? The Electoral College is the way to balance power between large and small states like the two houses of Congress. Everyone's vote counts in their state like it should.

It would be better if the States split the Electoral College votes proportionally with the vote in the State. Take for example a State with 20 Electoral College votes and the outcome came 51% for Candidate A and 48% for B than the vote should be 11 for A and 9 for B so both get some.

Answer 3

No, because each and every American that votes should have their vote counted. An Electoral College vote tally can differ from the actual American voters tally. Example: Al Gore won the popular vote meaning he got more votes than George Bush, yet Bush won the Electoral College and therefore he is President. This could possibly make some Americans wonder, why bother, and that is a travesty.

Answer 4

Yes. The Founding Fathers knew what they were doing. It's a big country. If there were no Electoral college, the Presidential candidates would just pander to the needs of the urban centers -- where the votes are -- at the expense of the less populated rural areas. Unfair? Possibly.. in the sense that a vote for President "counts" more, proportionately, in a state like Wyoming than it does in .. say.. New York.

But in the checks and balances arrangement, a New York has offsetting influence in the House of Reps..through population-based apportionment. Lost in the modern shuffle is the founding notion that we are an association of States.. which have sovereign rights of their own and are not administrative sub-units of a national government.

Answer 5

The electoral college was set up to make sure that all states have a say in the election of the president. It gives each state so many points depending on their population and size.

Without the electoral college you would have what's known as mob rule. The states with the highest populations would make all the decisions. Smaller populated states say in the midwest need some sayso since they provide most of the food for the country.

It's probably the fairest way to vote and it's worked well so far.

Answer 6

i imagine it truly is an astounding idea. yet do not carry your breath. because it standsthe present day equipment efficiently bars 0.33 activities from gaining a authentic foothold. why is common. For a nil.33 celebration to become influential on a sustained foundation, they could should have the ability to excellent deal--say in the journey that they were given a dozen electoral votes in an huge election and both major activities might want to ought to compete to get their help. that could no longer likely to ensue because it stands because a nil.33 celebration might want to ought to have a majority in a state. it truly is a Cathch-22. they can't get impact without majority help--and they're going to in no way appeal to a majority of voters even in a unmarried state without impact (a minimum of no longer on a sustained, election-to-election foundation). What you advise might want to artwork. take a seem on the political historic past of england in the nineteenth century sometime. Their equipment isn't a similar as ours--besides the undeniable fact that it has good factors that enable small activities to have some seats in the homestead of Commons--and this promises reform/option communities a thanks to attain some authentic impact in a lot a similar way. yet (sigh) the Democrats and Republicans are literally not likely to provide up their joint monopoly each and anytime quickly. If ever. no longer voluntarily.

Answer 7

ABSOLUTELY. Otherwise candidates would spend all their time and money in populated places like California and New York. The electoral college is important because it ensures that each state is important. Not just the one's with the most people.

Answer 8

I do not like the Electoral College process because not every vote counts. If for example you live in Texas but want to vote for the Democratic President your vote would not count if the state is declared Republican. On the other side if you live in California and vote for the Republican President than your vote would not count if the State is declared Democratic. I just don't like the fact that my vote does not count if I vote against the majority of the voters in a particular state.

Answer 9

im pretty sure your class doesnt have a grasp on a better electoral system that our founding fathers.


dont u know that 90% of all teachers are left wing American haters?


and thats a memo.

Answer 10

It has probably outlived it's usefulness.

It was a compromise because many of the founding fathers did not trust the people to directly elect the president.