The Future of the Electoral College

The Future of the Electoral College

Introduction

The Electoral College does not refer to a place, but a thought - an idea implemented to elect the president and vice-president for a four-year term in the presidential office, in the United States. It emerged out of a considerably complex and controversial historic background, and many of its critics argue that it is an anachronism which no longer applies to the 21st century. Despite these criticisms, the 2012 elections elected President Barack Obama and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden for a second term. The Democrats ensured victory for their second term was by winning the 270 votes of the electors in the Electoral College this year. Given the election enthusiasm and active voting, there is hope for the Electoral College. What is the future of the Electoral College? Should it be abolished? Absolutely not.

Discussion

Origins of the Electoral College

The framework of the Electoral College has its roots in the ancient Centurial Assembly of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, 100 Centuries, entitled to one vote, could express their approval or disapproval to proposals that the Roman Senate made. In the Electoral College, electors cast their votes to elect the president and vice-president, who run for elections as a team. The selection of Centuries was based on their wealth. In the Electoral College, however, the electors are each determined by the relative strength of each state's congressional delegation. They face parallel difficulties and share commonalities having comparable structures. (Kimberling, 2008).

The Electoral College Mechanism: How Does It Work?

For a critique of the system at any level, it is important to understand its mechanism and workings. Electors from each state are chosen based on the number of its representatives, which vary according to the size of each state as determined by the census, and the number of senators, which are always two. US citizens cast their votes for the electors that signify their choice. Whichever party, be it Democrats or Republicans, wins the popular vote in a state, wins all of that state's electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska remain as the only exceptions where popular vote within all states and popular vote in the two states themselves determines two electors. Electors meet in their state capitals, casting two electoral votes, one for the president and one for the vice president. Presidential candidates who secure an absolute majority, consequently, win. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, the House of Representatives steps in to choose the president from the top three competitors. Each state casts only one vote, and the future president must win an absolute majority in the House of Representatives. In case this scenario occurs for the vice president, the Senate chooses future vice-president from the top two competitors (UMKC School of Law).

Criticisms of the Electoral College

Disproportionate Weighting between States

Critics argue that the winner-take-all prerequisite of the Electoral College reinforces and enhances the disproportionate weighting allocated to “swing states” that are politically competitive. By focusing resources to the “swing ...