As you’ve already read, the election of the president really consists of 50 separate state elections to choose voters to the Electoral College. This system, created by the framers of the Constitution, is a unique political institution. It’s one feature of the Constitution which many political scientists, and many Americans, question.
Listen to the podcast lecture from George C. Edwards and answer the questions that follow. A transcript is provided if you’d like to read along.
George C. Edwards III is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University. One of the country’s leading scholars of the presidency, he has written or edited numerous articles and books on American politics.
The Electoral College and Voter Inflation
(Everyone in Wyoming gets A’s)
One of the most basic democratic principles of political equality is voter equality. The electoral college, which translates popular votes into electoral votes to determine the presidential election, arguably violates this principle through voter disenfranchisement and disproportionate individual and state influence. While the Framers designed the system to protect against legitimate concerns about the new democracy, if those concerns are no longer relevant, is the electoral college system still the best way to select our president?
How does the Electoral College assign its votes?
The college assigns its votes based on how the Electors vote. They can be split or given as a total number.
How is the number of Electoral votes per state determined?
By population and 2 given for the Senators.
What issues arise with regards to political equality in the allocation of Electoral College votes per state?
There is a lot of disparity between swing states with many small states holding the same or close to the same political clout as a large state. Also, many states Electoral College votes are based on census counts that are outdated.
The elections of 2000 and 2004 were argued to have been won by both candidates. What issues arose during those elections to cause such debates?
Issues in the voter turnout and how votes were cast and counted, however, the Electoral College made the decisions anyways.
What disparities can be found in the "winner take all system."
The system allows for wide margins of disparity between the numbers of votes cast for a candidate versus the Electoral College votes assigned.
In what ways does the Electoral College represent the popular voting sentiments of the Nation?
Political scientists mostly agree that a major value of the Electoral College is that it creates the psychology of a mandate for the candidate that is elected in this system.
What were some of the root reasons for the creation of the Electoral College?
The founders emphasized the federal nature of our government by creating the Electoral College. The states elect the president. Some states such as Maine assign electoral votes based on the results of individual congressional districts.
Podcast: The Electoral College
