Unit 3

Electoral College:  To Keep or Not to Keep?

Summary:

For years Americans have been debating over keeping or scrapping the Electoral College system, but after the Bush/Gore election in 2000 it has been an even bigger topic.  In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won the Electoral College, and therefore winning the Presidency.  During that election, Gallup conducted a poll that found 75% of Democrats wanted to scrap the Electoral College, and 56% of Republicans wanted to keep it.  A new Gallup poll was conducted in 2011 that found 62% of Americans wanted to get rid of the Electoral College and have popular vote decide the President, including the majority of Republicans.  People who support switching to popular vote do so on the basis that it makes some votes more important than others.  People who live in swing states have more power than people who live in red or blue states.  Candidates spend all of their time campaigning in these swing states because those states have more of a say in the Electoral College.  Other people like the Electoral College because it protects smaller states and rural areas.  Without the Electoral College people in rural areas would be forgotten about because candidates would focus on trying to win more populated areas.  

2012 Electoral College Results Map

Analysis:

The Electoral College was the main focus of Lesson 5 in Unit 3, and we addressed the pros and cons of the Electoral College.  I believe that the United States should keep the Electoral College because it is part of the foundation of this country.  The creators of the Electoral College system had the right idea to limit the power of the majority.  Without the Electoral College the small rural areas and small ethnic groups would be forgotten.  Candidates would concentrate on getting the vote of large cities and states because they have the most people and therefore the most votes.  The Electoral College forces candidates to campaign to all people of America.  Plus, trying to change the Constitution is a very long process that would take years and cause lots of conflicts and debates.  

Resources:

• http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/10/electoral-college-gallup-poll-popular-vote-/1#.VPOsiPnF-So
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-edwards/electoral-college-votes_b_1917826.html
• http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/keep-electoral-college