Would the alternative to the electoral college just be the popular vote? Or is there another system people want to be implemented?
I often see people critizing the electoral college (especially during the current election!). Would the alternative to the EC be just following the popular vote? Or is there another system people have in mind to replace the electoral college?
Answers ( 1 )
There are a number of options that are possible, but popular vote is the most obvious and, arguably, democratically fairest of them. There are some problems with it though, which are often ignored. First, some alternatives.
You can revamp the electoral college to award votes based strictly on the population of each state rather than the more convoluted method at the moment. This is a constitutional change, but a relatively straightforward one.
You can elect the President from the House Of Representatives. This would be similar to many western democracies that choose a Prime Minister. This would save a lot of money, but to suggest that the constitutional changes would be complicated would be an understatement.
You can also completely revamp the entire structure of government, reducing the Presidency to a ceremonial role only. This would be, ahem, controversial. While it is common elsewhere, the system shock to the Unites States would be severe and there's really no evidence to suggest one is better than the other - it is an extreme way to deal with electoral college criticism.
You can do away with elections altogether - King George III's descendents would be happy to take your call - she's probably sick of weekly visits from Boris by now.
The popular vote option is popular because it seems fair and is achievable without constitutional amendment. As each state choose how to designate their electors, when a majority of electors belong to states that sign on to a popular vote decision then it is done. Relatively easy compared to a constitutional change. (And note that states can do whatever they want - popular vote of the nation, as is, draw a name out of a hat, or sell to the highest bidder - so long as all their citizen are treated equally).
A word of caution though - the electoral college exists for a reason (those founding father's had some fine ideas, after all). The reason the electoral college is undemocratic is by design. It is a balance that means that "big" states can't bully "small" states. The same is true to an even greater extent with the Senate. The idea was that small states could still have Presidents elected (like Delaware, right now). It can certainly be argued that the balance is tipped too much toward smaller states - but it can be argued it is not tipped far enough either! That's a political argument, not a constitutional or electoral process one and it is a question for another discussion altogether.
There are certainly other options to consider too, but I think this gives you a starting point to understand some of the alternatives and issues around the electoral college.