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The Electoral College: How It Works Criticisms, Strengths, Possible Reforms
The Electoral College: How It Works Criticisms, Strengths, Possible Reforms
COLLEGE
•How it works;
•Criticisms,
•Strengths,
•Possible
•Reforms
How it works
Each states is awarded a certain number
of EC votes.
This number is equal to the states
representation in Congress. Eg. California
has 55 (2- senators & 53 Reps) compared
to 3 (2 senators & 1 rep).
There are 538 EC votes.
To win the presidency, a candidate must
win a majority (270)
The popular votes for each candidate are
counted in each states.
In all but 2 states whichever candidate wins the
most popular votes receives all of the EC votes
for that state – winner takes all rule.
This rule however is not in the Constitution, its
purely a convention.
The EC never meet together. Its members meet
in their respective state capitals on the Monday
after the 2nd Wednesday in December.
They send their results to the VP and he counts
the EC votes in a joint session of Congress.
If no candidate wins an absolute
majority, the president is elected by the
House of Representatives by an
absolute majority vote.
Meanwhile the VP would be elected by
the Senate, following the same format.
Criticisms of the Electoral College
Small states are over represented
Winner takes all system distorts the
result.
Unfair to national third parties.
‘Rogue electors’
Potentially a President and a Vice
President of different parties.
Strengths of the Electoral College
It preserves the voice of the small
population states.
It tends to promote a two horse race –
more legitimacy and authority as
someone will get more that 50% of the
vote.
Possible Reforms
The Main System –
used in Main and Nebraska,
involves awarding one vote to a
candidate for each congressional district
that they win, and two votes for the state
wide winner.
If used in 2000 = less proportionate.
2004= exaggerated Bush’s win.
Allocation of EC votes in prop to pop vote:
Fairer to national third parties- more
proportional system.
Encourage more voters to vote for other
parties, this makes it more likely that no
candidate will win an absolute majority,
throwing the election to Congress.
In 2000, Bush would have beat Gore
(260.2 – 258.4) others with 19.4.
Other reforms would need to made? – a
thresh hold- 10%?
The Direct Election Plan-
Opinion polls suggest American’s would
like to directly elect the President. Eg. 2000
– Gallup Poll – 61% in favour.
Despite popularity for this, only an
amendment made by Congress can reform
the process.
Seems highly unlikely – small populated
states love the current system, requires 2/3
majority in BOTH House and Senate and
equal rep of small/large states in the
Senate.