why is there an electoral college?

Answer 1

Electoral college was adopted as a method of the election in the US as per Constitution in order to provide representation among the different states for choosing the President.

Answer 2

It is stated that the Electoral College was established so that each state, regardless of size or population, would have equal representation in the election, have the same voting power as stated above. I am not clear on this. California has 55 electoral votes, and a state such as Rhode Island only has 4. How is this giving Rhode Island the same impact as California. Secondly, the Electoral College was established because the founding fathers did not have faith in the "common man" to be informed enough about politics to select a President and Vice President. Back then many could not read or write. People were tending to their farms and just paid attention to local issues. I'm not entirely confident that the Electoral College needs to be abolished, but I'm not sure if it's as relevant today as it was when first established.

Answer 3

The electoral college is the best thing ever. Not sure why so many dumb people out there call for it to be dissolved.

In a nut shell.... With out the electoral college all them nuts in California would pick our president every election and there would be nothing anyone could do about it.

The electoral college is another genius idea by really old dudes to balance out representational voting power. This ensures that Idaho has the same impact, or voting power as California or New york.

Its still not perfect as you can tell by normal presidential elections when the majority of states are republican and Ohio California, and Florida are the only states that voted democratic but yet its considered the will of the people.

not that democrate or republican parties are what our four fathers had in mind... but then everything curropts over time.

Answer 4

While the Constitution was being written some members of the group wanted a President elected by the Senate (similar to the majority party in Parliament choosing their leader). The electoral vote was a compromise with those who wanted a directly elected President.

I despise the Electoral College. Unless I live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Mexico, or New Hampshire my vote is really irrelevant.

Answer 5

It was originally established because there was no good means of counting a NATIONAL vote. Each state established districts. Whichever candidate won that particular district received an electoral vote. Delegates would then ride horseback to report the winner of the distict. Each district represented a set number of voters, therefore, the more populated a State, the more electoral votes it had. Whichever candidate won the most districts in said state received all the electoral votes for that state thus winning the State.

Answer 6

It was originally designed to help with elections as the only modes of information and cast votes were directed by horse transportation so it was established to assist in the election process to expedite results faster. It should have been done away with years ago and replaced by the popular vote. We wouldn't have many of our current problems now such as the Iraq debacle were the electoral college dismantled. This gives the Government power to elect who they want without the American people's consent by vote.

Answer 7

Wake up! It was to protect slavery! I, for one, deeply resent the chicanery and rigging that the current pResident-elect has pulled to get his chubby little fingers on our nation s nuclear codes! Unfit, unqualified, not the populist he campaigned as, but a ruthless demagogue and serial liar, bent on destroying our nation s reputation in the world! If you think for a moment the rest of the nations were snickering about "W" finagling his way past the Electoral College. just imagine how much damage 4 years of this ***-hat will leave us with! I weep today, for Lady Liberty!

Answer 8

Federalism. The founders wanted state's rights and a small federal government.

They wanted each candidate to pay attention to the states, not the majority. Each state is supposed to have representation in Congress (Senate), but a constitutional amendment took that away.

Answer 9

because the founders of our country put it in the Constitution. Main purpose was to keep the more populous states from pushing around the smaller ones.

Answer 10

Think about it. If it was just popular vote you would have the major cities, like San Francisco, who would get noticed over rural America. This way it is fair.