Why are the American people not clamoring to get rid of the Electoral College?

Answer 1

Two big reasons:

In general the American people tend to focus on issues that directly effect their everyday lives, or the media happen to be reporting on on that particular day. A lot of noise was made after the 2000 election (which demonstrated why the system is a bad idea) but it has drifted out of the public consciousness since then.

Also because of the difficulty of enacting a constitutional amendment it is generally held that the electoral college is highly unlikely to be abolished. While several bills calling for abolition of the college are generally proposed every year, the press tends to only concentrate on bills that have a chance of passage.

In fact some people are trying to do away with the college. (For an interesting idea see www.nationalpopularvote.com.)

You will also hear much nonsense from supporters of the college. In truth the system ensures that most of the country is not actively courted by Presidential candidates, it does not contribute to the stability of the country (see the elections of 1860 and 1876), the system can potentially be gamed for personal or partisan gain (a high ranking state elections official tried to sell the electoral votes of Louisiana to both parties in 1876, George Wallace's 1968 Presidential run was based on the idea that he would win enough votes to deny either party a majority in the Electoral College and could then negotiate with both parties for his votes--he basically wanted to turn back the civil rights movement.) Oh and of course the guy who gets the most votes sometimes doesn't win (we're lucky it doesn't happen more often.)

Answer 2

(Copies, Pastes old answer. Since we get one of these every day)

Pro: The Founders of this nation had a justified fear of complete democracy. They set up a system where supposedly wise men, elected by the people, and holding no other office at the time, would chose a President. They knew "There's a sucker born every minute". They made sure that there was an insulating layer of responsible people between the voter and the presidency. Thus there is some protection from the lies and deceit that went on during election season, then just as it does now.

Con:
1. Those who failed their civics classes, or who have never received any instruction in our system of government, continue to complain and question the Electoral College. This makes the sheep easily identified and led by the barking dogs.

2. Those who wish to take advantage of the gullibility of the average voter would like to do away with the Electoral College, in order to make their nonsense campaigns more effective.

Although the Electors of most states are "pledged" to vote for the winner in that state, and most face criminal penalties for breaking that pledge, there may come a time when the Electoral College is forced to muster its courage and go against the vote. This could happen in a scenario where massive fraud or corruption is found between the national election day and the balloting of the Electoral College. This could happen and is what was intended by the founders of this nation.

Answer 3

Because the US is a Democratic Republic, not a pure Democracy.

The Electoral College serves much the same function in the US as the House of Lords does in the UK....in a pure democracy, you always run the risk that everyone will vote to give themselves a 50% pay raise, which effectively achieves NOTHING. You always need some folks to keep an eye on the sanity of "democratic" processes. In the US, the Electoral College serve this function...

Answer 4

There was some clamor when Gore "lost" the election, and I imagine there will be clamor again when a candidate wins the popular vote but loses to the Electoral College. There are good arguments both for getting rid of it, and for keeping it.

Answer 5

I would love to see us elect our President by national popular vote but it would require 3/4 of the states to agree. In the mean time, let's try to look at alternatives to reform the electoral college like allocating electoral votes proportionally in each state. In 2004, Kerry needed a few thousand votes in Ohio to win the electoral vote majority without winning the popular vote. Both Republicans and Democrats would've been forced to form a commission to review the electoral college and look for a viable alternative.

Answer 6

Think about this one for a minute. If you want New York City and San Francisco to rule the country getting rid of the Electoral College would about insure it.

Answer 7

Why should we get rid of the electoral college? It serves a very important role in the election of a President, making sure that highly populated states like California, New York, and Texas control who is in the White House.

Answer 8

It's debateable as to whether we should get rid of the electoral college or not. Americans don't seem to be any more capable of more direct governance than they were 200 years ago.

I'd say less so.

Answer 9

I join you. I have written several messages on the same item. Long out dated part of our constitiution. A method that was used to elect a President that did not win the popular vote. This is wrong for a country that our constitution starts with "We the People".

Answer 10

The electoral college is the most fair and logical way to do it.