What are the pros and cons of the electoral college system?

The number of delegates is related to the number of inhabitants. The most populated states have a greater number of delegates; For example, California, which has approximately 40 million inhabitants, has 55 delegates. In contrast, the less populated states like Alaska, Delaware, Montana and Wyoming have 3 delegates.

Differences between the Electoral College and the popular vote

Unlike the Electoral College, with the popular vote citizens can directly elect members of Congress, mayors, governors, legislators, and other local officials.

However, the popular vote does not determine who will be the President and Vice President of the United States.

How the Electoral College works

The Electoral College is a mechanism that develops differently from common suffrage:

• Citizens elect electors every four years.
• Voting takes place in the months prior to the official day of the presidential elections.
• Each political party selects its electors.
• In turn, each state has its own rules regarding this selection and the role of voters.
• Once elected by the parties, the candidates for voters must analyze and justify their position regarding the presidential candidates.
• Voters agree to vote for a certain candidate for president and vice president.
• On the designated day, voters must vote as promised.
• If they fail to do so, they are considered “faithful voters,” and are subject to lawsuits and other penalties depending on the state.
• In total, 538 electors are chosen, and to win, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.
• If there is a tie, the House of Representatives intervenes, where each state will have one vote.
• If within the state there is also a tie, then the vote is invalid.
• To break the tie, the candidate will need at least 26 state votes.

Advantages of the Electoral College

The Electoral College system has several advantages in US politics. The most important ones are:

• It allows the least populated states to be on an equal footing to cast their vote.
• It guarantees a fairer election and clear results.
• Avoid irregularities in the counting of votes.
• Reduces the costs of presidential campaigns.
• Promotes national union.

Disadvantages of the Electoral College

Among the main disadvantages of the Electoral College system, the following stand out:

• The opinion of the majority of the population is not always represented.
• Voters’ power of choice diminishes.
• It gives some states greater electoral power.
• It is an indirect system.
• The voter must trust that the elector they chose will vote for the promised candidate.
• You can override the popular vote.
• Gives swing states greater power.

The Electoral College today

The Electoral College has been embroiled in controversy since its creation. Primarily, it came under fire during the 2016 presidential election. That year, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, won the popular vote with approximately 3 million votes. However, the winner of the electoral process was Donald Trump, candidate of the Republican party, who, although he lost the popular vote, won the Electoral College and, therefore, became the president of the United States.

Currently there are conflicting opinions regarding the continuation or abolition of the Electoral College. Detractors claim that the circumstances of the town are different from those of the 18th century when it was created. Therefore, citizens have the ability to freely elect their presidents and vice presidents.

Although some political sectors want to eliminate the Electoral College system, to achieve this it would be necessary to amend the Constitution.

Other politicians suggest the possibility of establishing changes in the system itself without eliminating it or even modifying the way in which the popular vote is carried out.

Bibliography

• Westgate, K. How does the voting system work? (2020). Spain. Gareth Stevens Pub.
• Hunt, S. What is the electoral college? (2017). Spain. ‎Gareth Stevens Pub.
• Jenkins, P. A Brief History of the United States. (2019). Spain. Editorial Alliance.
• Waller, A. The Electoral College: What it is and how it works . The New York Times. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/es/2020/11/03/espanol/colegio-electoral-que-es.html .