The Electoral College-2
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The Electoral College
Piper Kinzel
Charleston Southern University
American National Government
William Heppding
November 5, 2023
The Electoral College
The Electoral College is a base component of the United States presidential election practice. In the following text, we will explore the inner workings of the Electoral College, along
with the arguments in support and opposition to the system. Some view the Electoral College as a critical aspect of the American political system; others argue that it is old and needs improvement. Understanding the complexity and arguments surrounding the Electoral College is essential to American democracy. How The Electoral College System Works
The President of the United States is elected through the Electoral College system as opposed to other United States elections where our candidates are elected through majority rules (Ginsberg, B., et al). When thought of through a state-side view, the electoral college can be the winning factor in an election- whether they have the popular vote or not. This system is not widely used. We are the only country in the world that uses the electoral college system to choose our president (Ginsberg, B. et al.).
Support of the Electoral College
There are many reasons why some are in support of the Electoral College. The protection of smaller states is a great relief in many eyes. The electoral college grants a safety net for the smaller states, and without this safety net, candidates would center their attention on the majorly populated states. These larger states, such as California, Texas, and Florida, would be the candidates' focus, causing the smaller states to be cast aside (Kirch, S. 2020).
The Electoral College has been a focal point for the American political system for centuries. It is an image of stability towards our nation and provides a great deal of consistency for the citizens of America.
Opposition of the Electoral College
While some support the Electoral College, there are always concerns surrounding this political system, with the first being a disproportion in power. While smaller states may get equal
representation as the more significant, this system also makes it so that a single vote in a smaller state can mean significantly more than a single vote in a more significant state. This issue can result in candidates focusing more on swing states than the rest of the nation (Hylton et al., 2010).
The winner-takes-all system is a system that can lead most states to a distortion in popular will. Within this system, a candidate could win by a landslide in the popular vote but still
win in the electoral college. Along with that, the underrepresentation of certain groups, such as in
minorities or urban areas, is an issue that people fear the electoral college does not address.
Conclusion
The Electoral College is a multi-dimensional system that can bring about both support and opposition to any candidate. While some believe in its supporting roles, such as protecting smaller states and stability, others believe that the Electoral College only leads to problems such as its disproportionate power, distortion of popular will, and underrepresentation. These debates have been long-standing and robust throughout history, and they will forever remain a relevant argument for how we will best elect our highest office position.
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References
Ginsberg, B., Lowi, T. J., Weir, M., Tolbert. C. J., & Francis, M. M. (2022). We The People
(14
th
ed.). W. W. Norton.
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324034940
Hylton, J. G. (2010). How mcuh difference does the small state advantage in the electoral
college really make? Marguette University Law School. https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2010/03/how-much-difference-does-the-small-state-
advantage-in-the-electoral-college-really-make/
Kirch, S. (2020). Electoral college system gives small states a voice in u.s. presidential elections. KMVT. https://www.kmvt.com/2020/11/04/electoral-college-system-gives-small-
states-a-voice-in-presidential-elections/
For additional information on APA Style formatting, please consult the APA Style Manual, 7th Edition
.