Why does the electoral college still exist versus simply going by the popular vote?

Question

Isn't it true that many simply stay at home knowing that their state is going to go either Red or Blue regardless of their input?

Answer 1

Back in the days when the electoral college was set up, the country was not homogeneous.

Now it is.

The electorial college is based on the number of seats in that each state has in congress. I think that is a good thing to keep intact. So that no one state ends up with too much power. While it is out of balance, it is still based on the needs of the people within that state and congressional district.

With that being said, the electoral college needs to be eliminated because it does not represent the will of the people.

However, I am more inclined to go to a system where we elect our representatives and in turn they elect one of theirs to be the president and the VP comes from the minority party.

Yea, I'll get thumbs down for that, but at the same time, I think it would have eliminated someone like Monkey Man being selected, then elected. And we may get in some people that are smart enough to hold such a high office without sounding like a high school drop out.

Peace

Jim

Answer 2

If we were a direct democracy, we would not have the electoral college, because the majority will decide who the winner is.

But because we are a representative democracy and a constitutional republic, we keep the checks and balances so that the minority will have a voice and the rights of the minority will not be taken away by the decision of the majority.

It has nothing to do with a state being Red or Blue. A state that is Red just indicates that the state is mostly comprised of conservative voters, and a Blue state indicates that the state has more liberal voters than conservative. That is more of a result of direct democracy within the states rather than the result of the electoral college (which by the way is used primarily for presidential elections).

Answer 3

Not that many people stay home due to the electoral college. Part fo the reason it still exists is that there has never been any real strog public push to change tis--and it won'thappen without that--it does require a Constitutional Ammendment.

Congress won't propose such an amendment on its own--they have every reason not to--the electoral college system effectively eliminates the chance of a third party establishing itself as a potent force in national politics.

Answer 4

The same reason we have always had the electoral college.

It is a states rights issue and gives smaller states, a larger say in the political process.

As to your question regarding states normally going red or blue.

The electoral college didn't cause that problem, nor does the electoral college, prevent those states, from allocating thier electoral votes based on the percentage of popular vote, candiates get in those states.

States themselves determine if they will have a winner take all system, or base thier electoral votes on the popular vote.

The electoral college system, just gives smaller states, a slightly larger share of the vote, than they would have based on population.

Answer 5

First of all there are critical reasons why we have an electoral college. The founding fathers were extremely smart, and they knew based on their readings of historical democracies that not having an electoral college would certainly mean that the USA will not last. There would be no reason for some states to be a part of the US because all their power would go away.

As for certain individuals that think their vote doesn't count, well that is probably a good thing because people that are that dumb probably should not be voting anyway.

Answer 6

Aside from all of the exceptionally well written and gifted insights provided by all of the people who have answered this question, the Electoral College is framed into the Constitution of the United States. To repeal it would require a Constitutional ammendment, which in itself requires the approval of the Congress by a 2/3 majority, then ratification by a 2/3 majority of the State Legislatures.

Answer 7

This has been asked and answered many, many times.

If it were not for the electoral college, the candidates would only spend their time listening to the concerns of voters in the most populous states. This would seriously violate the tenant that all states are equal.

Answer 8

I think the founding fathers strongly believed in having the electoral college because they felt direct democracy was a failure. Is direct democracy correct today? I dont think so. Look at the voting on American Idol and then for senate seats in a given area. Americans aren't educated or interested enough to handle direct democracy.

Answer 9

If you get rid of the electoral college, the smaller states have less say than the larger states. I certainly don't wany California and Texas deciding the outcome of every election, do you?

Answer 10

It is where we live. Chicago rules a state that disagrees with it. As far as the college goes, it's like a nun turned atheist - exists out of habit.