In the 240 years since our country signed the Declaration of Independence, we’ve changed drastically as a nation. Our country has become more successful and innovative than our forefathers could have ever imagined, the inventions and explorations we have made are things that no one could have ever predicted over two centuries ago.
Unfortunately, as our country has evolved, many of the systems put in place back in 1776 have not evolved with us. One of the most prominent examples of this being the electoral college. It just has to go.
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The electoral college was originally put in place to help the country and government figure out who the frontrunners of the presidential election would be. At a time where campaigning across states was extremely difficult, the way the president was decided was the electoral college. The winners of each state would help the senate to figure out who seemed to be polling the highest, and eventually the president would be predicted based on who won the various states. Back in 1776, this system was extremely progressive and worked very well. However, with the invention of the two prominent political parties, Democrats and Republicans, the electoral college lost its significance. Additionally, with the creation of new age technologies as time has gone on, the electoral college is no longer necessary. Today, thanks to technology and our two party system (which has flaws in and of itself; however, that’s another issue), it’s easy to know who’s running for our presidential election. The electoral college no longer has a purpose or place in our modern American government.
Many also believe that this system was put in place to help negate the votes of African American slaves and uneducated citizens. It was James Madison, a Virginia slave owner, who advocated so heavily for this system. So fearful that a popular vote would diminish the three fifths compromise, Madison was the main advocate for the electoral college to protect the votes of property owning white men, and ignore the votes of slaves. As Yale law professor Akhil Reed Amar writes, the Electoral College “was an integral part of the odious pro-slavery three-fifths compromise.” We live in an evolved society where slaves are no longer present and the vote of a African American man counts the same as the vote of a European American man (as the same as an Asian American woman as the same as a Hispanic American woman, etc). Despite evolving past slavery and becoming a more equal nation, the electoral college remains in place as a horrible reminder of the three fifths compromise and the racism that was present when our nation was founded. We need to continue the evolution to a more egalitarian nation and get rid of the electoral college altogether.
Despite being a great way to empower the states’ individual rights and voice, the electoral college diminishes the value of an American vote. When other countries look in on our democratic system, many are in awe. Everyone gets a say! Everyone gets to choose who runs the country! But in reality, this is not true. More specifically, the swing states pick our president. The votes of a few (six or so) states decide who runs our country. In fact, many citizens in states like New Jersey and Texas don’t even bother showing up to the polls on election day. What’s the point? It’s not like their vote counts anyway, they think. New Jersey is a historically democratic state (despite having a Republican governor) and Texas is historically Republican. Why show up to vote if you know your state is going to follow the trend it’s been following for years? Why take the time to vote if your vote does not matter?
The fact that the popular vote has not reflected the electoral college in multiple elections (1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and now 2016) tells us that something is wrong with this system. If the majority of American people are choosing a president who is not being elected to the White House, something is wrong. The electoral college is an outdated and unnecessary system that is taking away American votes and discouraging American voters. This system needs to go. It’s time to take back your voice, America. Make your vote count.
You can find more information about the National Popular Vote here.
You can sign the petition to abolish the electoral college here.
