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 Should the Electoral college be eliminated? |
Methocostal |
Although Republicans have benefitted in the 2000 and 2016 elections by winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote, the day will likely come some day for the Demo's to have the same result. It begs the question of whether it is right and fair?
In a nightmare situation, a candidate could win 50.1 percent of the popular vote in the large states and only get say 30% in the smaller states and still win the electoral college with a very small overall popular vote. Fortunately, to this point, the differences between popular votes between the "losing" and winning candidate has been fairly small, but the potential exists for a large difference to occur. Do the benefits outweigh the potential negative? We have enough frustration with very small differences. Imagine the chagrin if the electoral winner only had an overall popular vote of maybe 35% compared to 65% popular vote of the losing candidate.
Many years ago, I actually did an analysis of the potential disparity and it was truly tremendous. (I probably did this in 2000 and I've forgotten the results). I think I did come up something in the vincity of the 35/65 situation I noted above.
Regardless of how most of us feel because of yesterday's result, the potential is there that where we may not feel the same if we were the losers of a future election. The old adage applies, be careful for what you wish for....
I realize the founding fathers purposely created the college to help give strength to the smaller states to somewhat balance the disparity. I don't know how the population dispersion was during our founding, but today, NY, Texas, California, PA, Florida, hold a dramatic percent of electoral votes. Today, the cities almost always vote liberal, thus they have tremendous power in an electoral college system.
Almost without exception, Demo's automatically start with having NY and California in their back pocket before they even start campaigning. That gives a tremendous jump start to their chances. It is amazing that in modern years, the Republican's have actually benefitted from the Electoral college. |
Friendly Face
Posts: 496
11/10/16 12:51 pm
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Resident Skeptic |
I believe it should be amended. As it stands. the States have complete sovereignty over how electors are chosen. It just so happens that all 50 allow for popular vote to choose the electors, but that is not a constitutional requirement. In earlier years State legislatures often chose the electors. But most did not have the winner-take-all system. The electoral votes were divided up between the candidates.
Two States, Nebraska and Maine, divide up their electoral votes. Whatever candidate wins a Congressional district wins that district's electoral vote. Had all 50 States adopted that system before the 2012 election, Romney would have won. Personally, I believe we should go to a divided electoral votes system but eliminate the actual college of electors.
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Acts-dicted
Posts: 8065
11/10/16 4:08 pm
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Eddie Robbins |
No!! Absolutely not. We are the UNITED STATES of America. Each state decides how they want to send their delegates for the vote. They don't even have to hold a vote.
BTW, Trump is going to win the popular vote. The military vote hasn't been counted, I heard. |
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Posts: 16509
11/10/16 4:35 pm
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Nature Boy Florida |
No.
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Posts: 16646
11/10/16 4:47 pm
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| Protection against large state ... |
Mat |
No, the system is a protection against large states (like CA) "stuffing" voting box to run up the vote. It is also a protection against voter fraud, and it is a safe guard against an "America Caesar" taking power based on the popular vote.
I agree with Eddie, we are the United STATES.
Mat |
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Posts: 1994
11/10/16 5:16 pm
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Quiet Wyatt |
| It should remain as it is. Eliminate the electoral college system, and the more rural and smaller states' votes will be rendered virtually powerless. All that will really matter then is the metropolitan vote. I suppose it depends on whether you think the states with the liberal big cities should basically be the decider in all national elections. |
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Posts: 12817
11/10/16 5:23 pm
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Dean Steenburgh |
Something that has been working for almost 150 years needs to be left alone.
Otherwise the population centers of America will gain the upper hand by sheer number posturing & the liberals will re-align the districts so that they can stay in power.
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Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia
Posts: 4682
11/10/16 6:17 pm
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Link |
It seems to give an advantage to the more conservative states over the larger-population, more liberal states that tend to vote wrong, so it seems to be a good thing.
It kept us from having a Gore presidency in 2000. It kept us from having a Clinton presidency this time. It seems like it is a good thing.
Back in the old days, the electoral college would actually get together and strike deals and decide who was president. They kept Jackson out one time that way. Maybe we could go back to that system. If we still had it, they might have selected someone besides Donald Trump, and maybe we could have had someone more conservative. The problem is, the people well wouldn't have accepted it the way things are now.
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Acts-perienced Poster
Posts: 11849
11/10/16 6:24 pm
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Link |
| Dean Steenburgh wrote: | Something that has been working for almost 150 years needs to be left alone.
Otherwise the population centers of America will gain the upper hand by sheer number posturing & the liberals will re-align the districts so that they can stay in power.
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We'd have to do a bit of research, but it just might serve as a counterbalance to gerrymandering.
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Posts: 11849
11/10/16 6:25 pm
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UncleJD |
| Eddie Robbins wrote: | No!! Absolutely not. We are the UNITED STATES of America. Each state decides how they want to send their delegates for the vote. They don't even have to hold a vote.
BTW, Trump is going to win the popular vote. The military vote hasn't been counted, I heard. |
Have to go with Eddie. The only reason to get rid of the EC is if you want to hand each election directly to the democrats. As long as 51% of the country lives in the big cities, and the big cities depend on democrat social entitlements, then you are automatically giving the popular vote to the cities. For the last year and a half I've heard how the EC favors Clinton and we should get rid of it.
Did you not notice that Trump lead in the popular vote all night until late when the California numbers came through where Hillary lead by about 7 to 3 ? |
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Posts: 3147
11/10/16 6:26 pm
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Dean Steenburgh |
| UncleJD wrote: | | Eddie Robbins wrote: | No!! Absolutely not. We are the UNITED STATES of America. Each state decides how they want to send their delegates for the vote. They don't even have to hold a vote.
BTW, Trump is going to win the popular vote. The military vote hasn't been counted, I heard. |
Have to go with Eddie. The only reason to get rid of the EC is if you want to hand each election directly to the democrats. As long as 51% of the country lives in the big cities, and the big cities depend on democrat social entitlements, then you are automatically giving the popular vote to the cities. For the last year and a half I've heard how the EC favors Clinton and we should get rid of it.
Did you not notice that Trump lead in the popular vote all night until late when the California numbers came through where Hillary lead by about 7 to 3 ? |
We could even have a system where we just flip a coin & the one who gets the best 3 out of 4 wins being POTUS.
No matter what system we have in place God will decide who will become the prez. (Daniel 2:21)
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Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia
Posts: 4682
11/10/16 6:31 pm
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Cojak |
No! I'm not crazy about the system, but as has been stated, without it a few states would determine the outcome. I do think the College voter should be required to vote as their state did.
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Posts: 24285
11/29/16 11:34 pm
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Methocostal |
Wow, I didn't know this earned a sticky  |
Friendly Face
Posts: 496
12/2/16 4:02 pm
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