Should the US Congress get rid of the electoral college?

Question

Due to last two presidential elections, they messed up and allowing Bush to be president. Should Congress get rid of the electoral college and do the elections by popular vote instead?

By the way, Congress can repeal the one of the amendments by putting another amendments like Prohibition.

Answer 1

I think a more realistic approach would be to have each state allocate all its electoral votes proportionally according to the popular vote within each state. This doesn't require a Constitutional Ammendment and would reflect the will of the people but in each state (still, it's better than nothing). I think requiring a national popular vote nowadays is just too dangerous. With the Electoral College, winner-take-all allocation of Electoral votes system, we have the candidates focus only on the main swing states. With a national popular vote, these candidates would focus on only the bigger states. I think the only way a national popular vote election can happen is if we use Instant Runoff Voting. This system allows for candidates to run more issue focused campaigns and they have to attract as many preferences, since they would need them to be able to win. But I think a proportional method for allocating electoral votes would be a good start and it would help break the duopoly. Thanks!

Answer 2

the congress can't get rid of the electoral college. that would take an ammendment to the constitution, and only the people can do that. each state has to vote on it, and like the electoral college, each state would get an equal vote. the smaller, less populated states are not going to vote it out, because it was put there to make sure they had an equal voice in the first place, people are going to vote against their interests.
The electoral college was put in place because some states are more densly populated than others. it is designed so as to give the smaller states a voice to be heard.

Answer 3

Congress can't do it on their own -- it would require a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the electoral college.

However, the problem isn't with the electoral college itself -- it's with the manner in which each of the states allocates electoral votes.

Currently, 48 states allocate votes all-or-nothing for a single candidate based on the highest percentage of votes in that state. So, we end up with odd situations like the national popular vote being off by 1-2% relative to the electoral vote. We also end up being locked into an effective two-party system.

States could fix part of the problem by allocating electoral votes on a pro-rata (percentage) basis, based on votes within their states, rather than all-or-nothing. And that's something that each state can do without requiring a federal Constitutional Amendment.

Answer 4

We vote for electors. If a state votes for the ticket of one party, all of that state's electors will be from that party. Those electors will almost inevitably vote for the same candidates that the majority of their state chose. Why? Because the electors are chosen by the party bosses. Only once or twice in U.S. history has an elector not voted for the candidate chosen by the people in a given state. These rare exceptions were protest votes by single electors. They had no outcome on the overall election.

Answer 5

They can't it's in the constitution therefore it would take a constitutional amendment to change it. This is what would be required:

Article 5. - Amendment Note1 - Note2 - Note3
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Answer 6

This can only be changed by Constitutional amendment, which requires 2/3 of each House and 3/4 of the states. Since there are at least 13 states who shouldn't be dumb enough to give more power to California (states with 5 or less electoral votes, which are AK, DE, HI, ID, ME, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, RI, SD, UT, VT, WV, and WY), the Electoral College is here to stay.

Answer 7

Democrats prefer the Chicago method of the electoral college. The mayor chooses the candidates, the number of votes, and the outcome of each election.

Even the dead participate in the democracy of the Democratic party!

After-all the working class should not be burdened with such decisions. Pelosi, Clinton, Kerry-Heinz, Reid, and Kennedy feels they are competent to make those decisions for the little people.

Answer 8

I will make you a deal, put term limits on congress and then I will be more than willing to discuss the electoral college.

Know why?

The Pres is term limited, and despite of his perceived power, his screw ups are not irreparable, whereas Congress screws up and we pay through the eye teeth and it never gets fixed.

Name one time when something congress did was rescinded in the next congress?

Ain't never happened.

Answer 9

The reason the electoral college exists is for the benefit of small states. If the small states (population not physical) say it is okay with them it is okay with us here in the country's most populist state.

Answer 10

Yes, the electorial College takes away YOUR rights as Americans!