Hello, princess here! Sorry it has been so long since my last post, I was busy planning the Autumn Ball! Anyways, lately in the process of learning about Democracy I was put to the task of uncovering information on the Electoral College. This is a system that the United States uses when voting for the president. It originated way back during the Roman Empire, back then they had princes from the various German states vote. So here is what I discovered, hope you that cannot afford education can learn from my brilliance!
When the constitution of the United States was created, many of the founding fathers disagreed with how we would select a president. Some thought it would be best if the congress chose, while others thought that it should be the decision of the whole entire country. Those who believed that the congress should decide feared that the uninformed people would simply vote for someone running that lived in their state, without knowing who they were actually voting for and why. They also believed that a direct vote would give the larger states an unfair advantage over the smaller states. Those that wanted a direct election with the entire country voting believed that if the U.S. were to be a true democracy, then this would have to happen. In the end, to dilute the power of the larger states and even it out with the smaller states they compromised on using an electoral college.
The Electoral College works like this, each state is given a select number of delegates. These delegates are chosen individually by each state using the same process in which they pick party delegates. The number of delegates given depends on the population of the state. For example California has more delegates than Wyoming because they have a much larger population. Each state has the same number of delegates as they do seats in Congress. When Election Day rolls around and everyone votes, the delegates’ then vote based on the popular vote of their state. But they are not required by law to do so. After the delegates have voted, the winner of those votes receives all the electoral votes that the state has. The only states that are an exception to this are Wyoming, South Dakota, and Rhode Island. These states divide their electoral votes depending on the outcome of their election. There are a total of 538 electoral votes; in order to win you need the majority with 270 votes.
The election of 2000 brought up many concerns with the Electoral College. The winner of the country’s popular vote was Al Gore. However George Bush ended up winning because he won the most Electoral College votes.While I am glad Bush won I think that this ridiculous, in order for this to have happened, the electoral voters had to have voted upon personal opinion as opposed to the way their state voted. This is a poor display of integrity.This has happened more then once in U.S. history. It first happened to John Quincy Adams in 1824, then Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, Grover Cleveland in 1888, and most recently with Al Gore in 2000. Each time a problem like this occurs people try to abolish the Electoral College system, many times a bill has risen in congress about it, but it never gets far. Mark A. Siegel, a senior fellow at AmericanUniversity’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies has stated that, “Wyoming is not going to get rid of a system that increases the voice of Wyoming by 700 percent.”
When I first think about this system I think it is stupid and pointless. It made sense back when it was set up, but now more people are educated and prepared to vote. Sure there are still those that vote out of prejudice or personal preference, but as a whole those few votes don’t hold much say. But then the more I think about the Electoral College, the more I see its value. For example it gives the minority a voice and chance to contribute. But then back on the other hand, why should we give the minority the ability to rule over the majority? At this moment I think the U.S. should get rid of this system, but knowing myself in another hour of so I will think we should keep it.
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So what have you peasants learned? What do you think about the Electoral College? Feel free to discuss it in the comments.
If delegates are in charge of placing the real votes for the canadite, then how much real power do the citizens have? I don't think that this is a fair way to vote. I think that every individual's vote should be counted instead of electoral votes.
Yea, I think a direct vote is the way to go. But when i think about it, how do you think that voter fraud would affect it.
Would the rate of fraud go up? Cause people may feel the need to buy more people's votes. And the government might take away more voting machines from areas that are prone to vote one way or another...
Yea, that could end up in a really big problem. I would also like to see a direct vote for an elected official. I think that Voter fraud might happen more often if that happens though, which is sad and we really wouldn't have that much power anyway. But, tha delegates are not forced in anyway shape or form that they have to vote for the most popular vote in their state. How is that giving us power? They could totally change their minds and vote AGAINST what the people wanted.. How is this fair or constitutional?
I agree. I have a hard time taking a stand on this issue. but usualy in the end I decide that we should abolish this system. That each person's vote should be counted. Not the electoral system.
back in the day this way was find and probably worked the best. but in this day and age every know what they need to so we sould destroy this but i dont think this is possible.
5 comments:
If delegates are in charge of placing the real votes for the canadite, then how much real power do the citizens have? I don't think that this is a fair way to vote. I think that every individual's vote should be counted instead of electoral votes.
Yea, I think a direct vote is the way to go. But when i think about it, how do you think that voter fraud would affect it.
Would the rate of fraud go up? Cause people may feel the need to buy more people's votes. And the government might take away more voting machines from areas that are prone to vote one way or another...
Yea, that could end up in a really big problem. I would also like to see a direct vote for an elected official. I think that Voter fraud might happen more often if that happens though, which is sad and we really wouldn't have that much power anyway. But, tha delegates are not forced in anyway shape or form that they have to vote for the most popular vote in their state. How is that giving us power? They could totally change their minds and vote AGAINST what the people wanted.. How is this fair or constitutional?
I agree. I have a hard time taking a stand on this issue. but usualy in the end I decide that we should abolish this system. That each person's vote should be counted. Not the electoral system.
back in the day this way was find and probably worked the best. but in this day and age every know what they need to so we sould destroy this but i dont think this is possible.
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