popular vote pros and cons

Join with confidence, netivist is completely advertisement free. I think it might actually inflame [the issue of polarization]. Other believe it is as flawed, if not less flawed, than any other system thought of. extremely close, then the election defaults to that candidate with the best distribution In the Electoral College system, voters cast theirballots toelect designated intermediaries, known as electors, who have usually pledged to vote for a particular "ticket", i.e. Robinson stated, It depends on the outcome [of the election]. The same thing happened in 2016, when Donald Trump won the electoral college vote over Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote to Clinton by nearly 3 million votes. Our moderators will now review this comment and act accordingly. Each state is authorized a specific amount of electoral votes, based solely on the number of members that state has in Congress. represent each State's choice for the presidency (with the number of each State's States also conduct other elections (for U.S. majorities only to the Electoral College? The delegates believed that the presidents power should be limited, and that he should be chosen through the system known as the Electoral College. All rights reserved. If you are new to netivist, please create your account for free and start collecting your netivist points! While Gore won the popular vote by about half a million in 2000, Hillary Clinton won it by nearly three million in 2016. Discuss. A popular vote system would significantly impact voters and turnout. representation in the Senate and House as they exist today, then surely these same reasons There is an important debate on whether or not the Electoral College should be reformed or even suppressed. office would not have obtained the absolute majority of the popular vote. James Madison stated, There was one difficulty however of a serious nature attending an immediate choice by the people. Either way, though, the person taking How is this possible? In fact, it has so many cons to it that the popular vote alone should elect the president. What other voting reforms would you make? You would imagine [candidates] paying attention to where most people are living, because now thats how theyll get the most votes. Electors are chosen every four years in the months leading up to Election Day by their respective states political parties. In a state that maybe is clearly Republican or Democratic, it makes the minority feel like they never have a voice in electing a presidential candidate, explained Jacobson. Electoral College? That could change on Nov. 3 of course, because all House seats are up for election. independent candidate were to win the support of even as many as 25% of the voters Of the 538 Electoral College votes available, Donald J. Trump received 304 votes, Hillary Clinton received 227 votes, and seven votes went to others: three for Colin Powell, one for Faith Spotted Eagle, one for John Kasich, one for Ron Paul, and one for Bernie Sanders). Should we not correct the minor distortions in the House (caused by According to an Atlantic / PRRI poll from 2018, 65% of adults support switching to a popular vote system. [7] [8] [9], The Electoral College was also intended to prevent states with larger populations from having undue influence, and to compromise between electing the president by popular vote and letting Congress choose the president. 3. that One [pro of the Electoral College] is that it makes sure that states that otherwise might feel left out of the process are included despite their small size. Electoral votes incentivize voting in less populated states by increasing and emphasizing the impact of each state. The Electoral College comprises 538 electors; each state is allowed one elector for each Representative and Senator (DC is allowed 3 electors as established by the Twenty-Third Amendment). The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. [7] [8] [9], According to Alexander Hamilton, the Electoral College is if not perfect, it is at least excellent, because it ensured that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. [7], Democratic Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak vetoed a measure in 2019 that would add the state to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would have obligated the states electors to vote for the popular vote winner. generally acceptable objectives. The House of Representatives picked Adams over Andrew Jackson, who won the popular vote but only a plurality of the Electoral College. Without the electoral college, groups such as Iowa farmers and Ohio factory workers would be ignored in favor of pandering to metropolitan areas with higher population densities, leaving rural areas and small towns marginalized. A second way in which the Electoral College debate contributes to the political stability of the nation. University Press, 1972. Often ignored, Americans had a lesson on the workings of the Electoral College after the 2000 election, in which Al Gore won the popular vote but George W. Bush became president. College's role in reinforcing a two party system, proponents, as we shall see, find this Despite the difficulties it poses, the idea of abolishing and replacing the Electoral College is gaining steam. to make much of a showing in the Electoral College. Washington: 1969. Analyze and debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College system. The Electoral College system is the method by which the President of the United States is elected to office. The total population of the state determines the number of members represents them in Congress. You know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win. Just as in 2000 when George W. Bush received fewer nationwide popular votes than Al Gore, Donald Trump served as the President of the United States despite being supported by fewer Americans than his opponent. and 1916, Truman in 1948, Kennedy in 1960, and Nixon in 1968. a system of proportional representation? The second advantage is that the all votes would be equally weighed (Richards). Would you like to create a debate and share it with the netivist community? Electors are chosen by the states to actually cast the official votes for president. And in 1888, Benjamin Harrison defeated the incumbent president, Grover Cleveland, in the Electoral College, despite losing the popular vote. In recent years, there have been two notable elections in which the ultimate victor did not win the popular vote: 2016 and 2000. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. This is true simply because it is extremely difficult for a new or minor party to win enough popular votes in enough States to have a chance of winning the presidency. The fact is, they argue, that the original design of our federal system of government was to force the decision into the U.S. House of Representatives, they would still have to On Jan. 6, 2017, a joint session of the US Congress met to certify the election results and Vice President Joe Biden, presiding as President of the Senate, read the certified vote tally. [11] [12] [13], Tina Mulally, South Dakota Representative, stated that the Electoral College protects small state and minority interests and that a national popular vote would be like two wolves and a sheep deciding whats for dinner. Mulally introduced a resolution passed by South Dakotas legislature that reads, The current Electoral College system creates a needed balance between rural and urban interests and ensures that the winning candidate has support from multiple regions of the country. [32], The Founding Fathers wanted to balance the will of the populace against the risk of tyranny of the majority, in which the voices of the masses can drown out minority interests. (Ed.) Is it fair? Far from being unusual, this sort No attention is paid to the smaller states because of the low electoral number, which doesnt really help the candidate win a lot. president. The important number is 270. district system of representation in the Congress) is to virtually force third party Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. The only remarkable thing You have to win the set, and in our system, you have to win the state.. All other elections in the U.S. are through the popular vote. Whether electors should be able to change their positions has been heavily debated, so much so that the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in July that states may require electors to abide by their promise to support a specific candidate. Because of how the system is set up, it is possible for one candidate to win the popular vote and another to win the electoral vote. of Presidential Elections 1789-1968. instead of the other way around. Meanwhile, others see the popular vote as useless and do not believe that their vote will make any difference. would strike at the very heart of the federal structure laid out in our Constitution and As for the second issue of the Electoral electoral votes. Not everyone knows exactly how the president is elected. Voters know that their vote will not change much the result of the election, so they dont have motivation to go to the voting polls. The Associated Press explains in this five-part animation series. 3. Electoral College system contributes to the cohesiveness of the country be requiring a The 58th United States presidential election on 8 November 2016 was won by the Republican candidateDonald Trump. [21] [22], A Sep. 2020 Gallup poll found 61% of Americans were in favor of abolishing the Electoral College, up 12 points from 2016. The New York Times defines The Electoral College as a group of people that elects the president and the vice president of the United States (Bromwich 2016). It is because of this "leverage effect" that the presidency, as an institution, Having the statistics to understand the ever changing cultures of our country views one candidate to both the state and people could help in the selection of the President and Vice President of the United States. presidential candidates well out of proportion to their number. Each After students have completed their handouts, have them debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College. The winner of each district is awarded that districts electoral vote, and the winner of the state-wide vote is then awarded the states remaining two electoral votes. rural ones. the Congress as an institution. Keep up the good work. nationwide, he might still end up with no Electoral College votes at all unless he won a in the other States listed. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. On Jan. 6, 2021, Congress held a joint session to certify the electoral college votes during which several Republican lawmakers objected to the results and pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol sending Vice President Pence, lawmakers and staff to secure locations. Proponents say an election day holiday will increase voter turnout. Proposals for Revision of the Electoral College [29] [30], There are over an estimated 332 million people in the United States, with population estimates predicting almost 342 million by 2024, the next presidential election. The official general election results indicate that Trump received 304 Electoral College votes and 46.09% of the popular vote (62,984,825 votes), and Hillary Clinton received 227 Electoral College votes and 48.18% of the popular vote (65,853,516 votes). to be a positive virtue. Cons It's not always reliable: The votes of elected officials in a representative democracy may not always reflect the will of the people. Create your account for free. However, a popular vote system, although hard to implement, is a more purely democratic system than the Electoral College. If enacted, the NPVIC would replace the Electoral College as the official system for electing the president of the United States. no one received over 50% of the national popular total. States can design their own mechanism -- without federal involvement -- for choosing their electors. WebI believe in the power of democracy and the ability to vote. Elections (2nd ed). national popular will, the argument goes, the Electoral College reinforces a two party mechanism is to make it extremely difficult for third party or independent candidates ever The Electoral College is the voting system the United States has adopted to choose the president, the individual who runs the country. To win the election, presidential candidates need electoral votes from multiple regions and therefore they build campaign platforms with a national focus, meaning that the winner will actually be serving the needs of the entire country. Table. by William C. Kimberling, Explore this article 1 It's Fair In a direct election, everyones vote counts for the same amount. accordance with the 12th Amendment. argument is that, since each State is entitled to the same number of electoral votes Some states on the political map might say that its the right thing to do, to agree to go with the popular vote. The unlikely situation of one candidate dying or becoming legally disable around the time of the election would be better handle by the Electoral College, because electors can adapt to the situation and find a solution. Electoral votes are awarded to the candidate who wins the statewide election, or the popular vote for a single state. sets of coherent alternatives. Al Gore had received more popular vote than. Have your students learn more about the results of one of the following 19th century presidential elections: 1800, 1824, 1836, 1872, 1876, or 1888. Another direct consequence of the winner-take-all system is that candidates focus more on populated swing states than on other states. Washington: American The system tends to represent more the diversity of the country. another (before the meeting of the Electors) or else, absent an absolute majority in the Lets have a look at the many issues on this topic. For example, the state of Wyoming has a population of 580,000 but holds 3 electoral votes. cast his votes for Lloyd Bensen for president and Michael Dukakis for vice president Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. We will help you do it! Have each group select one student to present an argument in favor of or against the current system to the class. Electoral College, the U.S. House of Representatives would select the president in First, the distribution of Electoral votes in The Presidential election is considered a take all election. In this lesson, students will learn about the Electoral College how it works in a presidential election and why it was created and consider whether it needs to be reformed. The nations founders hoped to quell the formation of powerful factions and political parties, and they wanted a mechanism that did not rely solely on popular majorities or Congress. You cant let 538 people decide the fate of a country of 300 million people. [28], Even President Donald Trump, who benefitted from the Electoral College system, stated after the 2016 election that he believes presidents should be chosen by popular vote: I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. WebThe National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement where states in the compact award all their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, no matter which presidential candidate wins in their state, says There have been 7 such Electors in State Governors, State legislators, and a host of local officials) in which these same The votes were certified in the early hours of Jan. 7, 2021 by Vice President Pence, declaring Joe Biden the 46th US President. support elsewhere would not be reflected. If there are reasons to maintain State occasionally come close to this sort of outcome, the question here is whether the absolute majority of popular votes). voter participation, the Electoral College actually enhances the status of minority Rank choice voting? Voters from political parties usually nominate who will be their electors at state conventions. Pros and Cons of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. the difference between winning all of that State's electoral votes or none of that State's The reasoning behind the Electoral College written in the Constitution is simply expressed that political leaders have more knowledge in the fate of the country rather than citizens. contributes to the cohesiveness of the country Your vote is anonymous. The candidates in the ticket whichreceivesthe absolute majority ofelectors votes (currently 270) is elected to the office of President and Vice-president of the United States. Popular vote is an actual count of individual votes from all states in America while the Electoral College is a measure of the House of Representatives and Senators choosing directly who the president should be (Kimberling, 1992). One example being the elections of 2000 and 2004 where George W. Bush lost the popular vote in his first election by five hundred thousand vote but won the popular vote in his second election by three million votes. In New Mexico, electors can be charged with a felony if they abandon their pledge, and in Oklahoma a faithless elector could face a misdemeanor charge. The local laws would take effect only once the compact has enough states to total 270 electoral votes. president. Bibliography On the Electoral College Proponents further argue that the Electoral Should it be abolished? vote (an idea which not even proponents of a direct election seem to advocate). party system. What do you think? disturbed by the possibility of electing a minority president (one without the The electors of each district may vote for different parties. In Maine and Nebraska they follow an alternative, and more proportionaldistrict method. Because the procedure for electing the president is part of the Constitution, a Constitutional Amendment (which requires two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress plus approval by 38 states) would be required to abolish the Electoral College. This will allow us to keep netivist alive and available to With many citizens not understanding whether or not their vote is actually being counted during the election, more debates have risen on if popular vote should be the deciding factor of presidential determinations instead. WebIn five elections in US history1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016candidates who won the popular vote did not win the presidency because they failed to gain a majority of electoral votes. Recently, critics have expressed that this system is not as equal as predetermined. WebElectoral College pros and cons A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. The result is that election, though, simply because most often their purpose is to make a statement rather I worry and wonder what, as we see a growth in right wing military activity and citizen vigilantes, the perception of taking away power, [would do]. than make a difference. Their reasoning is that in a formal For more on the Electoral College direct popular election, there would be every incentive for a multitude of minor parties The flawed winner-take-all system, the lack of a direct correlation between the popular vote and electoral votes, and the unfairness in a tie for the presidency all indicate the Electoral College is outdated and must be abolished. The Electoral College are three ways in which that could happen. But just 538 people decide who will be president; thats about 0.000156% of the population deciding the president. The winner of the states popular vote gets two electoral votes, and one vote is awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each congressional district. Should the Electoral College be abolished? Even if they won enough electoral votes The official general election results indicate that Trump received 304 Electoral College votes and 46.09% of the popular vote (62,984,825 votes), and Hillary Clinton received 227 Electoral College votes and 48.18% of the popular vote (65,853,516 votes). choices available to the electorate. Such an organization of social conflict and political Just login. Lara Maupin has a Masters Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from George Washington University and a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. Students may work individually or in small groups. Its the Electoral College, not the national popular vote, that determines who wins the presidency. When the Electoral College votes for the people, people are not really motivated to be involved in politics. Currently, if a candidate receives a majority of the popular vote in those states, that candidate will receive all of that states electors. Your comment is being posted. participation. Moving to a popular voteI dont think it will help. Explain to your students that while in November Americans will cast their ballots for president, there is actually a system called the Electoral College that determines who will win the election. In some ways, it defies the rule of one person, one voteWith increasing frequency, I imagine, well see instances where the winner of the Electoral College and the national popular vote do not align, said Jacobson. The debate of whether the Electoral College should be abolished or not has. We are having trouble saving your comment. Under this system, the President is chosen by winning the majority of electoral votes, casted by the congressional representatives of each state according to the popular vote in each state. helps to maintain a two party system in the United States. I do not think this system is fair, I think it contradicts the fact that as Americans we are given the freedom to vote, but it seems as though the peoples vote actually doesnt decide much. demolish our federal system of government. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? Elections. Neither one of the candidates are elected from the popular vote. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1985. I think it might actually inflame [the issue of polarization]. On Dec. 14, as electors gathered across the country to cast their ballots, Joseph R. Biden Jr. had earned 306 electoral votes, 36 more than needed to win. population? Or sign in with your favourite Social Network: In order to join the debate you must be logged in. Yet this is less of a problem than it seems since, as a Electoral votes) as the 9,614,000 persons of voting age in the State of Florida. will. The American government should make no changes and keep it as it is. the Senate (which is always two regardless of the State's population). More than 74 million votes had been counted for Mr. Trump. they often cite the South here) so as to enable a minority of citizens to decide the WebWhat are the advantages of National Popular Vote? Small states only get 3 electoral votes, when really, their population, for example in Wyoming, is 584, 153. If you already created your netivist account, please log in using the button below. One way or another, then, the winning candidate must demonstrate both a sufficient popular support to govern as well as a sufficient distribution of that support Moreover, they suspected that the citizens would not educated themselves on candidates, and that citizens would not have enough information to make a good judgement. 5. First, have students meet in small groups to discuss and debate. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Mr. Biden was leading in the popular vote, with more than 81 million votes. Mukunda stated, The fact that in presidential elections people in Wyoming have [nearly four] times the power of people in California is antithetical at the most basic level to what we say we stand for as a democracy. [33], The minority interests the Founding Fathers intended the Electoral College to protect were those of slaveowners and states with legal slavery. Other presidents who lost the popular vote but won the presidency include John Quincy Adams and Rutherford B. Hayes in the elections of 1824 and 1876. Swing states are those where the result of the election is uncertain, therefore spending efforts and money to win these states can have a great impact on the outcome of the election. All Rights Reserved, How 2016 put pressure on the Electoral College. In a direct popular election, a candidate could theoretically win without having broad support throughout the country. FEC:The Electoral College [11], Richard A. Posner, judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, further explained, There is pressure for runoff elections when no candidate wins a majority of the votes cast; that pressure, which would greatly complicate the presidential election process, is reduced by the Electoral College, which invariably produces a clear winner. [11], The electoral process can also create a larger mandate to give the president more credibility; for example, President Obama received 51.3% of the popular vote in 2012 but 61.7% of the electoral votes. region over the others or through the domination of large metropolitan areas over the Should the United States keep the Electoral College as it is defined in the Constitution? For years there have been debates about abolishing the Electoral College entirely, with the 2016 election bringing the debate back to the surface. Learn more and come to your own conclusion with this PBS NewsHour lesson. Elections, LLC 2019 All Rights Reserved, http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/electoral_college.html, the possibility of electing a minority Already have an account on netivist?

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