To become president of the United States of America, you must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years and be a natural-born citizen. In this issue of Capitol to Capitol NCSL Letter to Congress on Farm Bill Reauthorization and Town Hall, House Republicans Unveil Border Security Bill, and more. Following the unprecedented and volatile 2020 presidential race when the popular vote winner was clear on Election Night, but final results still took days it's never been more clear that the Electoral College needs a major overhaul. Some states, such as California and Hawaii, both had their bills vetoed by their governors before it was overridden and enacted by state legislators. Candidates feel they either cant win or lose with the votes from these states. The election is held every four years on the first Tuesday in November and prior to election day, the two candidates endure state-level primaries, caucuses, debates, and conventions. https://www.nytimes.com/article/the-electoral-college.html. Abolishing the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment, a lengthy and often unsuccessful process. Note: Today we are in a phase where the popular vote in presidential elections leans Democratic. 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. All Rights Reserved, How 2016 put pressure on the Electoral College. In 2016, for instance, Democrat Hillary Clinton received nearly 2.9 million more votes than Trump in the presidential election, after racking up more lopsided wins in big states like New York and California. The one-vote approach does not align with the way the electoral votes operates. "Electoral College Pros and Cons." 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. To determine the National Popular Vote winner, state election officials simply would tally the nationwide vote for president based on each states official results. The conference's consulting services on policy issues go beyond testifying. This four-part series, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, will explore key topics in election administration such as funding, voter registration list maintenance, post-election audits and voting technology in conversations with each of the agency's four commissioners. The official 2016 election results from the Electoral College gave Donald J. Trump the victory with 306 electoral votes v. Hillary Clinton's 232 votes. Breaking News: Biden Vetoes Congressional Resolution Blocking ESG Rule . cons of the national popular vote plan - ssmthope.org For the 7 presidential elections between 1992-2016, the Republican candidate has won the Electoral college 3 times. Lastly, the biggest problem that the Electoral College produces is the reality that a persons vote really doesnt matter (Black). (LogOut/ NCSL conducts policy research in areas ranging from agriculture and budget and tax issues to education and health care to immigration and transportation. The Founding Fathers chose it as a compromise between allowing Congress to choose the president and having the president elected directly by the popular vote of the people. 5. The first problem it creates is the opportunity for the loser of the popular vote to win the electoral vote. 805 15th Street, NW, Suite 800 That means every state is allowed a minimum of 3 electoral votes. It gives each vote an equal amount of power. Did you know that in 2016, Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote over Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes? Currently, 48 of the 50 states follow the winner-take-all rule. The states' approval of the compact is a victory for democracy and the principle of "one person, one vote." Candidates feel these states need a little bit more of their attention and apply pressure to supply these states with solutions to their problems in order to gain their vote. Although this may limit the amount of diversity that occurs in office, and may generate extra financial costs, the argument could be made that these risks outweigh the results of an election where a majority of states, not a majority of people, put someone into office. That means a candidate who receives a majority of their votes in a high-delegate state, such as California, could make a dramatic impact on the rest of the election. How about receiving a customized one? A direct popular election would make it more possible for third-party candidates to succeed and would also encourage political parties to become more radical and extreme. Although its not detailed in the Constitution, each state delegation would vote on which candidate to support as a group, with the plurality carrying the day, said Akhil Reed Amar, a professor of law and political science at Yale University. Hence, the National Popular Vote plan is an interstate compact a type of state law authorized by the U.S. Constitution that enables states to enter into a legally enforceable, contractual obligation to undertake agreed joint actions, which may be delayed in implementation until a requisite number of states join in. The second advantage is that the all votes would be equally weighed (Richards). Electors are chosen every four years in the months leading up to Election Day by their respective states political parties. In 2016, for instance, Democrat Hillary Clinton received nearly 2.9 million more votes than Trump in the presidential election, after racking up more lopsided wins in big states like New York and California. Most are, and it helps to think of voting on a state-by-state basis, Professor Amar said. Richards earned a master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University. There are logistical issues that are managed at the local level in each election. That offers the possibility that someone unwilling or unable to hold the office could be elected. Change). There are currently 538 electors, and to be elected, a candidate must get the votes of at least 270 electors. Here are the essential pros and cons of popular vote elections to examine. That could change on Nov. 3 of course, because all House seats are up for election. Everything You Need to Know About the National Popular Vote Interstate A switch to the popular vote would eliminate the concept of a battleground state because the issue would be more on issues than states. To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one or 270 electoral votes. Rescue crews are fighting rugged terrain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as search efforts for a missing man remain ongoing. Second, some believe itll intensify election problems, such as illegally extended voting hours or irregularly high voter turnout (Richards). Evidence as to how a nationwide presidential campaign would be run can be found by examining the way presidential candidates currently campaign inside battleground states. FEC:The Electoral College Reduces voter participation by creating a my vote doesnt matter feeling. boyd's article "electoral college system challenged" proves that the system is outdated and misrepresents the national popular will. All other votes cast for that candidate are therefore superfluous. What relevance do they have today. Inkwell | Everything You Need to Know About the National Popular Vote As of 2020, the state with the largest number of votes is California, with 55 electoral votes. And thats not how it should be in a democracy. Individual states agree to pledge their electors to the winner of the national popular vote, provided that enough other states follow suit. These battleground or swing states receive 7% more federal grants, twice as many presidential disaster declarations, more Superfund enforcement exemptions, and more No Child Left Behind law exemptions (National Popular Vote). Make a contribution to support Common Cause today. Prevents disputed outcomes ensuring a peaceful transition of power. There are various options for reforming the Electoral College system, including abolishing it altogether, adopting a national popular vote system, and proportional allocation A total of 538 electoral votes are in play across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Analyze and debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College system. Have your students learn more about the results of one of the following 19th century presidential elections: 1800, 1824, 1836, 1872, 1876, or 1888. The proportional plan retains electoral votes, but awards the votes in each state based on the percentage of votes received in each state (regardless of the districts from which the voters come) by the competing . Because its so hard to get an amendment to the Constitution passed that means that once it becomes law it will probably remain so for a long time because the bar to change it back is so high. "Electoral College Pros and Cons." Thats the way it has been in this country for a long time. The bill has crossed paths with 36 legislative chambers and has been sponsored or voted for by 3,112 state legislators (National Popular Vote). (Until the ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became vice president.). At that stage, anyone who received an electoral vote is eligible to become the next president. 4 terms. Pros and Cons of The U.S. Electoral College - National Popular Vote Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. 6. Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right Loading Home Buying Calculators The NPV Interstate Compact does not eliminate the very complicated Electoral College system that most voters dont really understand. In fact, part of a presidential candidates campaign strategy is drawing a map of states the candidate can and must win to gather 270 electoral votes. Security would be improved across the country. The senators in the U.S. Senate make up two votes in addition to the votes that represent the number of its members in the U.S. House of Representatives (Archives). on Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, Follow All U.S. Citizens Should Vote. Cleveland ran again four years later and won back the White House. One of the main critiques of the Electoral College is that because 48 states choose to allocate electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis (the College is established by the Constitution, but the . Rural voters would almost always be in the minority. Congressional Digest The National Popular Vote According to the Constitution, the Electoral College is a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens (National Archives). 9. The selection of presidential electors is specifically entrusted to the states by the Constitution. 3. The states that join the NPV Compact will not be able to certify their Electoral College Votes until all 50 states and DC certify their state popular votes and any mandated/requested recounts since the Compact state ECVs are dependent on the winner of the national popular vote and not just their own state popular votes. But she lost the presidency due to Trumps winning margin in the Electoral College, which came after he pulled out narrow victories in less populated Midwestern states like Michigan and Wisconsin. End with a class discussion. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz often split about 60% of the GOP vote, which allowed Donald Trump to win early primaries with 35% of the vote. Although the 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides clarity to this situation, that process is based on the electoral college. Even the minority party wouldnt be encouraged to negotiate because they could simply stall until the next election. Today, electors meet in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December Dec. 14 this year to cast separate ballots for president and vice president, with the candidates who receive a majority of votes being elected. Also the NPV Compact allows states to withdraw from the compact as late as four months before an election. [ 1] The Pros and Cons of Pooled Employer Plans: Debate. Currently, candidates focus more on swing and battleground states to help them gain those electoral votes. Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Electoral College Reform: Should We (They dont always do so.). And finally, the Electoral College doesnt work today anywhere near how the Founding Fathers intended it to work when they created it back in 1787. Electoral College Pros and Cons. The Electoral College system was established by Article II of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. 1. After students have completed their handouts, have them debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College. Regional candidates could secure enough votes to win a national election. A special commission named by the House chose Hayes over Samuel J. Tilden, after 20 electoral votes in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina were disputed. By its very nature, the Electoral College system is confusing. Many of these states dont participate in campaign visits or get televised ads. Reduces voter participation by creating a "my vote doesn't matter" feeling. An individuals vote doesnt make a difference when it is counted against the votes of the delegates in the House of Representatives and Senate. Since 2008, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), which is an multi-state agreement to commit electors to. In addition, while the Founders considered the electors as being free from any sinister bias in 1788, electors today are selected by the political parties and are usually pledged to vote for the partys candidate regardless of their own beliefs. Discuss. Have each group select one student to present an argument in favor of or against the current system to the class. Thats a bank of about 14 million potential voters that reliably vote as a majority for Democratic candidates. Read the overview below to gain an understanding of the process and explore the previews of opinion articles that highlight diverging views on this voting system. On a close popular vote, often defined as a difference of 0.5% or less in the tabulated results, an automatic recount would likely be triggered. The Electoral College system, long a source of controversy, came under especially heavy criticism after the 2016 presidential election when Republican Donald Trump lost the nationwide popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by over 2.8 million votes but won the Electoral Collegeand thus the presidencyby 74 electoral votes. After all, is said and done, the candidate who attains the largest number of votes can still lose. Because of the Winner-Take-All state laws candidates for president only campaign and spend their money in 12-13 swing states because voters in those few swing states determine who wins the election and presidential candidates totally ignore voters in the rest of the country(except to raise money). Resource allocation would be focused on paid advertising, which would negate the need for grassroots activities. To pass an amendment to change the Constitution the Founding Fathers wisely required approval by 2/3 of both houses of Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures instead of a simple majority. Washington, DC 20005, Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Issues, Ensure Fair Districts & Reflective Democracy, Expand Voting Rights & Election Integrity, Promote Free Speech & Accountability in Media, Protect the Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Reforms. Image the country thinks it is going to elect the president by National Popular Vote and then changing back to using the old Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system just four months before an election. Processes vary from state to state, with some choosing electors during state Republican and Democratic conventions. In U.S. history, there has been one vice-presidential candidate who died after being nominated and one that withdrew from their partys ticket. People call them faithless electors. In 2016, seven electors 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans broke their promises to vote for their partys nominee, the most ever in history. Get breaking news and updates from Common Cause. Overview - Pros & Cons of the Electoral College - Digital Branch at Mr. Biden was leading in the popular vote, with more than 81 million votes. Would they like to see the system changed? Although many supporters of the electoral college argue that a two-party political system is more stable, some critics counter that having more than two parties would give Americans more choice. Lastly, some Americans believe that there would be an increase in voter turn-out if people felt that their vote was viewed as a significant asset to their country. BREAKING NEWS: Announcing the 2022 NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams. Students share their findings. So you run a campaign designed to maximize your votes in those few largest states. That effectively means that votes in the the 75% of the country that are in swing states effectively dont count at all. The NPV is a multi-state agreement that, when active, would ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationally also wins in the Electoral College. The electoral college leads to a heavy emphasis on swing states and also typically over-represents citizens in rural states. Congress broke the tie, and Jefferson became president and Burr became vice president. University of Colorado Boulder The local laws would take effect only once the compact has enough states to total 270 electoral votes. Under the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system votes in small states, like Wyoming or Delaware count double what votes in large states like California or Texas. Some scholars have said they do not wholeheartedly agree with the decision, arguing that it endangers an electors freedom to make decisions they want and that electors are usually picked for their loyalty to a candidate or party. If that happens in the Electoral College, then the decision goes to the newly seated House of Representatives, with each state voting as a unit. THE LONGEST NIGHT - California Digital Library Texas has 38. Pros: Gives the smaller states an equal voice. Because there is now an even number of electoral votes, a tie is feasible. One route would be a constitutional amendment, which would require two-thirds approval from both the House and Senate and ratification by the states, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. If this happens many people in the red states will not feel that the change is legitimate even if its legal and technically constitutional. Advantages & Disadvantages of a Direct Popular Election Unless the national popular vote was very close, or there were all lot of recounts outstanding, the Compact states in most cases would effectively know what the outcome would be and could be prepared to certify their state votes very quickly to make the Electoral College meeting date deadline. Some states replace electors and cancel their votes if they break their pledge. National popular vote plan. States boyd, william j.d., "electoral college system challenged." national civic review 55.9 (1966): 519-23. What did they learn about the American system of electing the president from these elections? With a popular vote in place, each election win would be decreed a mandate to follow the platform of the winning party. Although faithless electors have not affected the results or outcome of an election yet, in 2016, there were 7 faithless electors. Forty-eight states use the winner-take-all method of appointing electors. Inside Ohio or Florida, to pick two examples, the big cities do not receive all the attention, and they certainly do not control the outcome. Presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, or campaign in states that they cannot possibly win or lose; in 2016, 68% of presidential campaign visits took place in just six states. In 2016, Florida had 29 electoral votes and 9.4 million voters, created a voter value of 0.72. NCSLs experts are here to answer your questions and give you unbiased, comprehensive information as soon as you need it on issues facing state legislatures. Electoral College vs. popular vote in the United States Samploon is a database of free essay samples. While we look further into the National Popular Vote, lets investigate some of its pro and cons for the American democracy. 8. However, that support diverges widely based on political parties, with support from 89 percent of Democrats and only 23 percent of Republicans. Understand how the Electoral College system works. 4. Should that happen, then the final decision of who gets to serve as President of the United States is taken away from individual voters. Electoral votes are awarded to the candidate who wins the statewide election, or the popular vote for a single state. It has also happened four times out of the 56 presidential elections. They will do as promised if the candidates do a very good job vetting them and picking people who are rock-solid, Professor Amar said. 3. Certain penalties exist in other states. Imagine a scenario where a presidential candidate focuses on Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, OR and Seattle. Electoral votes are designated among the states based on Census. Donald Trump won the presidential election by securing 304 electoral votes, compared to Hillary Clintons 227 electoral votes. Unexpected emergencies would be difficult to handle. NCSL's experts are here to answer your questions and give you unbiased, comprehensive information as soon as you need it on issues facing state legislatures. Consequently, they decided that using the proxy votes of the well-informed electors would lessen the risk of tyranny of the majority, in which the voices of the minority are drowned out by those of the masses. The Electoral College has also awarded the presidency to candidates with a plurality of the popular vote (under 50 percent) in a number of cases, notably Abraham Lincoln in 1860, John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. (2021, February 17). It was a compromise between those who wanted direct popular elections for president and those who preferred to have Congress decide. Although moving to a popular vote election would balance the weight of each vote, it would also create more sway in larger population states. But . I will explain that in another blog post. After all, the Electoral College makes it possible that a candidate who wins the majority of the votes could still lose the election. She graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University with bachelor's degrees in creative writing, English/American literature and international studies. Thus, the National Popular Vote plan will take effect when enacted by states controlling an additional 74 electoral votes. But for those people who feel that changing how we elect the president should only be done by constitutional amendment they will feel that using the NPV Compact will undermine the legitimacy of the process even though its perfectly legal and constitutional.
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