Federal lawsuits have been filed in four states, including texas, that. The book then evaluates the current operation of the winner take all electoral college and explains whycontrary to the mantra of many of its defendersit is essentially different from the electoral college conceived by the american founders. Nov 08, 2016 the electoral college is an antidemocratic institution. Popular vote plan npv has sought to abolish the electoral college with. Winnertakeall electoral practice faces voterrights challenge.
The electoral college is an antidemocratic institution. The electoral college, by contrast, is gratuitously, inexcusably undemocratic. The equal protection argument against winner take all in. Challenging our nations malapportioned, undemocratic. It was devised by the framers of the united states constitution to provide a method of election that was feasible, desirable, and consistent with a republican form of government. If the winnertakeall electoral voting is not consistent. In the other 18 elections, an electoral college majority went to the winner of a plurality of the national popular vote 14 times. Yet schumaker said wellintended corrections could prove risky. The electoral college is one of the most undemocratic features of u. And the core principle of that decision that it is up to the states to choose the method was reaffirmed by the court in its decision in bush v. Democratic moderates, and democrats the authors call republicansforaday, aided the republicans in establishing a winnertakeall system.
The electoral college is the name given to the method used for the member states of the united states to choose the president. Strategy for abolishing the electoral college detailed in new. The original electoral college, which lasted only through the first four presidential. The college is electing national officers the president and vice president of the united states. Explain why some people say that the winner take all system of the electoral college is undemocratic. Jun 06, 2016 the electoral college, by contrast, is gratuitously, inexcusably undemocratic. What is the us electoral college and how does it work. The electoral college is a strange mechanism, created to avert imaginary dangers, that violates basic democratic principles for no good reason. Another responder writes that i think the electoral college can be salvaged by eliminating the winner take all system. The electoral college was meant to stop men like trump from being president. Dec 02, 2016 what i do resent is that the electoral college, except for maine and nebraska, is a statebystate winner take all, rather than being divided up proportionally. In the 626page book npv supporters have authored, the voting rights act is. The 1892 ruling, in fact, upheld a decision by the michigan legislature to switch from a winnertakeall to a districtbydistrict system. Democrats have been ready to ditch it for at least.
The electoral college is a body of electors established by the united states constitution, which forms every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president of the united states. An electoral college map from the 1976 carterford campaign that. Jan 12, 2019 an idea for electoral college reform that both parties might actually like the way we now elect presidents would horrify the authors of the u. The man who saved the electoral college national affairs. Critics of the electoral college system point out that the system allows the possibility of a candidate actually losing the nationwide popular vote but being elected president by the electoral vote. Feb 21, 2018 civil rights activists are challenging the legality of four states winnertakeall method of allocating u. A democracy serves the people but the winner take all only voices the electoral voters. How states make the electoral college even more undemocratic. Nov 03, 2016 yet, the electoral college and the winner take all rule employed by most states isnt without controversy. Dec 04, 2016 trump won because of the winner take all method of allocating electors used by 49 of the 51 jurisdictions participating in the electoral college.
All it takes is for a minority of members of parliament to be elected by an. Electoral college is better than alternatives critics of the electoral college and winnertakeall allocation as undemocratic should be careful what they wish for. The fact that you can lose the popular vote but manage to win the election is stupid. How it works in contemporary presidential elections congressional research service 2 of this eventuality, which occurred previously in 1876, 1888, and 2000. Unconstitutional and unfair to voters in 48 states. Electoral college, the system by which the president and vice president of the united states are chosen. Some argue its an unfair system because it allows for the possibility that the candidate. Explain why some people say that the winner take all system. The electoral college method of electing a president of the united states is archaic, undemocratic, complex,ambiguous, indirect, anddangerous. Fixing elections shows our whole 18thcentury winner take all political system. The reckless gamble in our electoral system by james a. Sep 14, 2017 this is precisely the problem with winnertakeall in the electoral college. Why is the winnertakeall system undemocratic answers.
Legality of electoral college process challenged in san. A winnertakeall system within states can produce results counter to the. The winnertakeall electoral college system used by 48. Why the national popular vote plan is the wrong way to. The theme of this attack upon the electoral college is well sum marized in a muchquotedsentence from the 1969 aba report. If the winnertakeall electoral voting is not consistent with all other states, should this be allowed. According to article ii, section 1, clause 2 of the. Constitution, but later enacted by 48 states, it could only take winning a bare. Tally of the 1824 electoral college vote national archives. Yet, the electoral college and the winnertakeall rule employed by most states isnt without controversy.
What i do resent is that the electoral college, except for maine and nebraska, is a statebystate winnertakeall, rather than being divided up proportionally. It cannot even ensure, the way the electoral college does, that we will have only two major parties. Nov 21, 2016 the electoral college was meant to stop men like trump from being president. And so for the second time in 16 years, the candidate who lost the popular vote has won the presidency. A rebuttal of richard posners moronic defense of the. The states adopted winnertakeall rules to enhance their role in determining the president. Dec 19, 2016 and so for the second time in 16 years, the candidate who lost the popular vote has won the presidency. The electoral college is undemocratic in the sense that. Statelevel winnertakeall was notably less popular with democrats back in 2000, when it gave the white house to george bush despite al gores lead in the popular vote. This election result is sometimes referred to, particularly by. The national popular vote campaign doesnt eliminate the college.
Oct 28, 2008 a closer look at the electoral college. The push to abolish the electoral college is picking up steam as democrats turn their attention to the 2020. The founders created the electoral college, but 48 states eventually enacted state winnertakeall laws. A handful of battleground states is all that matters for winning the presidency. Those winners, all below 50 percent of the popular vote, include. The national popular vote, explained brennan center for justice. The winnertakeall electoral college system used by 48 states, including colorado, sees court challenges share this. Nov 15, 2012 the electoral college is a strange mechanism, created to avert imaginary dangers, that violates basic democratic principles for no good reason. Unconstitutional and unfair to voters in 48 states they are unfair to republicans and democrats alike, and dont need a constitutional amendment to fix. Time to end the electoral college the new york times.
As for the idea that democrats have an advantage in the electoral college. They meticulously scan the cvs of all the candidates, read their books and papers. Opinion end winnertakeall in the electoral college the. The electoral college has 538 members, and each state has the same number of electors as it does house and senate seats. Democracy reformer larry lessig files lawsuits in four states. The winner take all system of the electoral college is undemocratic because it is does not voice the majority of people. Democrats calling to abolish the electoral college should not. How electoral college cheats democracy consortiumnews. In the winner take all states, the state legislative bodies hand over the choosing of electors to the states winning political party. What is the winnertakesall rule in the presidential.
The electoral college was meant to stop men like trump from. Electoral college change from winnertakeall system gains. Trump won because of the winnertakeall method of allocating electors used by 49 of the 51 jurisdictions participating in the electoral college. An idea for electoral college reform that both parties might. Constitution, the process today has moved substantially away from the framers original intent. Major alternatives, other than direct popular vote, are analyzed. This election result is sometimes referred to, particularly by proponents of electoral college reform, as a wrong. Rather than giving each state 1 vote each as is done for example in the general assembly of the united nations, states.
In the majority of states, it is a winner takes all system. Moderates, such as senator john breaux who famously insisted that his vote could not be bought but it can be rented and max baucus, supported probusiness initiatives such as the bush tax cut. As the college goes, so goes the constitution claremont. The electoral college is antidemocraticand thats a good. A national plebiscite conducted without reference to winnertakeall in the states indeed, without reference to the states whatsoever has no mechanism to ensure that the major party candidates will appeal to all or most of the same voters.
Fixing elections and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Some argue its an unfair system because it allows for. Ap united states government and politics 2007 scoring guidelines question 1 5 points part a. An idea for electoral college reform that both parties might actually like the way we now elect presidents would horrify the authors of the u.
Unable to agree on any particular method for selecting presidential electors, the founding. They are unfair to republicans and democrats alike, and. While election of the president and vicepresident was provided for in article ii, section 1, clauses 2, 3, and 4 of the u. The electoral college is the system used by the united states to elect its lead executive. While others may say that america is a republic, the voting system is advertised as democratic, and therefore should be. Mar 03, 2017 background the electoral college is one of the more difficult parts of the american electoral process to understand. Civil rights activists are challenging the legality of four states winnertakeall method of allocating u. Jan 29, 20 the 1892 ruling, in fact, upheld a decision by the michigan legislature to switch from a winnertakeall to a districtbydistrict system. The 2016 election added fuel to the argument that the electoral college was not only undemocratic and outdated but unsafe and vulnerable to foreign interference. Former attorney general eric holder is among the latest highprofile democrats to call. This is precisely the problem with winnertakeall in the electoral college. Over the years a combination of several factors has. Feb 21, 2018 1 of 3 texas electoral college electors take the oath of office in the house chamber at the texas capitol on dec.
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