Over the past few years, discussions about the viability of the electoral college have taken center stage. We saw this with the election of George W. Bush and calls to abolish the electoral college became deafening after the 2016 election. What are the benefits and risks of abolishing the electoral college? Do you believe that the Electoral College should be abolished? Why or why not?

 

Electoral College refers to the 538 electors who come together to officially appoint the president and vice president every four years. Each state has specific electoral votes and no state can have less than 3 electoral votes. The system has come under criticism especially after the 2016 election where the candidate with less popular vote won the electoral college and became president.

Benefits

The electoral college provides the state with less population a say in the election of the president.

The electoral college decentralizes the control of the election from the nation to the states. This enhances the sovereignty of the states.

Prevents the majority from always having their way thus enhancing diversity.

Reasons it should be Abolished

The electoral college provides disproportionate powers to only a few battle ground states. The candidates only concentrate on the states which can turn the balance of the race to their advantage.

The system gives states no incentive of enfranchising new groups as the number of electors are based on the population of the state.