The Electoral College

[Ulaven_Demorte]

For those of you who believe that the Electoral College is an antiquated vestige from the 1800's.

Take a look at the National Popular Vote movement. Since each state is allowed to award their electoral votes however they see fit, rather than trying to eliminate the Electoral College states are passing laws that distribute their electoral votes according to the national popular vote. Effectively eliminating the electoral college without the need for a constitutional amendment.
http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/
It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes, and will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more electoral votes. The bill has passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes. Most recently, the bill was passed by a bipartisan 40–16 vote in the Republican-controlled Arizona House, 28–18 in Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate, 57–4 in Republican-controlled New York Senate, and 37–21 in Democratic-controlled Oregon House.

 

[phrodeau]

But if it wasn't for the Electoral College, we would still not know who got elected. Six days later, and they haven't finished counting.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

But if it wasn't for the Electoral College, we would still not know who got elected. Six days later, and they haven't finished counting.

We won't know anyway until mid December, when the Electors cast the only votes that really count in a Presidential election.

 

[phrodeau]

There's more of a chance that both Pence and Trump will die than enough faithless electors will switch to Democrat.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

There's more of a chance that both Pence and Trump will die than enough faithless electors will switch to Democrat.

Not the point, nothing is set in stone until the electors cast their votes on Dec 19th. So having to wait another few days for the popular vote total (99% done as of now) means nothing.

 

[Hypoxia]

There's more of a chance that both Pence and Trump will die than enough faithless electors will switch to Democrat.

Depends on who accepts bribes. (I refer to both electors and executive bodyguards.) Or on a divine sense of cynical humor.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

The Electoral College is fine the way it is. Millions of people who voted in 2012 did not vote in 2016. That is what happened.

The structure that prevents, or at least was designed to help prevent, the tyranny of the majority is fine the way it is.

The Orangoutang is president because many people were too dumb, lazy or complacent to vote for their own interests and in the best interest of the country. Nothing more and nothing less.

Energy is much better spent on redrawing congressional districts and taking back governor's mansions.

 

[biseattlegirl]

The EC is like the World Series. You play 7 games (or have each state vote) and the winner of the majority of the games wins the series...not the team that scores the most runs.

If Chicago had won four games with each score being 1 - 0 and Cleveland won 3 games with each score being 3 - 0 Chicago would still win the series. It is not the aggregate score that counts, it is the individual victories.

Each state has an election and whomever wins the most individual victories is the winner.

Not to mention we have no proof that Hillary would have actually won the popular vote. How many people did not vote in their state because the outcome was already known by the voters for their state?

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

The EC is like the World Series. You play 7 games (or have each state vote) and the winner of the majority of the games wins the series...not the team that scores the most runs.

If Chicago had won four games with each score being 1 - 0 and Cleveland won 3 games with each score being 3 - 0 Chicago would still win the series. It is not the aggregate score that counts, it is the individual victories.

Each state has an election and whomever wins the most individual victories is the winner.

Not to mention we have no proof that Hillary would have actually won the popular vote. How many people did not vote in their state because the outcome was already known by the voters for their state?

Your analogy is flawed because electoral representation from state to state is not proportional. One vote in a rural state can be worth as much electoral power as four votes in another. The result is that electoral power is concentrated in "battleground states" with very low voter to electoral vote ratios. This is why campaigns concentrate on those states and ignore others as "safe". If electoral votes were awarded to the national popular vote winner that would encourage candidates to work the entire country rather than ignore most of the states altogether. Over 90% of the 2016 campaign was directed at just a handful of states. The fact is that the electoral college depresses voter turnout in "safe states" on both sides of the aisle.

To make your sports analogy reflect reality any games played in Wyoming are only three innings long but count as a win just the same as nine inning games in Pennsylvania. Wyoming is apportioned one electoral vote per 177,000ish eligible voters while Pennsylvania is apportioned one electoral vote per 478,000ish eligible voters.

 

[Ramone45]

New York State needs a version of the Electoral College. HUGE disconnect between the city and the rest of the state..Cuomo would never be governor if not for the city.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

New York State needs a version of the Electoral College. HUGE disconnect between the city and the rest of the state..Cuomo would never be governor if not for the city.

Damn those State popular elections.

One in every forty (8.4 million) people in the entire U.S. lives in the five Burroughs of NYC alone. It's no surprise that a popular vote is going to favor the city dwellers, good luck altering the NY State Constitution to switch the Executive branch to an electoral vote. Amending the State Constitution also requires a popular vote.