What Are Your Thoughts On the Electoral Voting System?

[Stealth Hunter]

In my opinion, it does not reflect the general wants of the voters. I believe the president should be decided by the popular vote.

[Platapus]

People have been debating this ever since before the Constitution was written.

[Stealth Hunter]

Yep, and nobody has done a thing.

[Platapus]

Well there have been over 700 proposed amendments to the Constitution on this issue.

The Electoral system, while antiquated, does work and since both the Republican and Democratic parties already have a mechanism to use the electoral college to their benefit, I doubt there will be any changes.

[Stealth Hunter]

But think about it...

Yeah, it WORKS, but does it reflect who the people WANT to lead them?

[Task Force]

I belive are votes should be the final votes not the electoral votes. But what do I know, Im not even old enough to vote yet.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

In my opinion, it does not reflect the general wants of the voters. I believe the president should be decided by the popular vote.

I agree, but I worry about some of the possibilities. One of these is the debacle in Florida in 2000. Can you imagine the consequenses when every vote became that important. It could happen in every state. We could still be deciding that election eight years later.

Another is that in any close election no candidate would ever get a 2/3 majority, and every election would be decided in the House. Our votes could potentially mean even less than they do now.

On the other hand, a third-party candidate (or fourth, or fifth) could really shake things up, and possibly even win.

I voted 'No Opinion', but what I really meant was 'Undecided'.

[Platapus]

1972 was the last time an elector (from Virginia) cast 1 vote for the Libertarian party.

The biggest complaint I have with the Electoral College is that it keeps the US essentially a two party state.

I posted the following on another related thread, but it does have applicability with this thread also.

There have been more proposed amendments to the Constitution concerning the Electoral College than for another issue. Over 700 proposals.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-regi...llege/faq.html

The consensus seems to be that the Electoral system is crap but probably the best crappy system we can find. As with many issues with the United States, it is a delicate balance between citizen rights (democracy) and State rights (Representative).

Since this country is slowly but firmly moving away from being the United States of America toward being the United Federation of America the issue of State rights is becoming mooter (I just made that workup )

Technically there is no reason not to have the President and Vice President elected by direct citizen vote. Politically though there are issues. The smaller states will feel more left out of the political game when the candidates concentrate solely on the highest population centers of the country. Why would any candidate spend the money and more importantly the time to campaign in Alaska for instance. Whether this is a valid point or not can be debated.

The bottom line seems to be that while a lot of people recognize the problems with the Electoral College, the system does work and the current political machines are geared for operating within an Electoral system. Since Congress is one of only two bodies that can change the system, and the political machines that run congressional elections like the Electoral system, fat chance of any changes.

That leaves the states being the only other body that can make this change. Smaller states sure aint goin to give up the Electoral system so it would be doubtful to get the necessary 2/3rds of the states (33 states) to propose the amendment nor get the necessary 3/4ths of the states (38 states) to ratify the amendment.

So we seem to be stuck with the Electoral system. The Electoral system was brought into existence like a bastard child -- half improvised, half compromised.

I would not count on either Congress nor the States changing it any time soon.

[TFatseas]

I support it.


A every vote counts system I believe would be ripe for abuse.

[Hylander_1314]

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

But think about it...

Yeah, it WORKS, but does it reflect who the people WANT to lead them?

The popular vote is supposed to influence the electoral vote. It doesn't do this 100% of the time, but it still has an influence on the outcome. Al-be-it, not as much as the corporate masters who have the politicians in their hip pockets.

But that is how the Republic was founded. The people weren't meant to be directly involved in every aspect of it. There are specific guidelines in the Constitution that outline all of this. Although from what i heard last time, G.W.Bush thinks it's nothing more than a "G.D." piece of paper, and it has to make one wonder how many in D.C. think the same way.

Personally, I like the guy (sorry, can't think of his name at the moment) running for the Whig Party. His motto is, We gave this country liberty the first time 230 years ago, and it looks like it's up to us to do it again.

I'll take liberty and personal responsibility any day over servitude and masters.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Hylander_1314

The popular vote is supposed to influence the electoral vote. It doesn't do this 100% of the time, but it still has an influence on the outcome.

"Today, it is rare for electors to disregard the popular vote by casting their electoral vote for someone other than their party's candidate. Electors generally hold a leadership position in their party or were chosen to recognize years of loyal service to the party. Throughout our history as a nation, more than 99 percent of electors have voted as pledged."

http://www.archives.gov/federal-regi...q.html#popular

[Neptunus Rex]

Here's what would happen if the popular vote ruled;

Candidates would only have to campaign in the most populous states to gain the victory. The lesser populated states would then become marginalized and vassals of those that elect the president.

Thats why the constitutional framers did not go with popular vote.

Image it! The president elected by the most populous states. You know, the ones with the highest presentage of naturalized citizens (and not so naturalized).

As bad as the current system MAY appear, it works, and the alternative is worse!

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by Neptunus Rex

Here's what would happen if the popular vote ruled;

Candidates would only have to campaign in the most populous states to gain the victory. The lesser populated states would then become marginalized and vassals of those that elect the president.

Thats why the constitutional framers did not go with popular vote.

Image it! The president elected by the most populous states. You know, the ones with the highest presentage of naturalized citizens (and not so naturalized).

As bad as the current system MAY appear, it works, and the alternative is worse!

That is the way it is now. Except it is only the battleground populated states that get the most attention.

[Platapus]

I have to admit as we are moving toward the United Federation of America the arguments in favour of the Electoral College seem to be weaker and weaker.

I can understand the historical purpose of the Electoral College, but as our nation changed and the emergence of communication technology beyond the wildest dreams of the Founding Fathers, the utility of the Electoral College seems lacking these days.

[Tchocky]

Hows about PR?