If presidential elections were decided by popular vote instead of the Electoral College, Al Gore would have been elected president in 2000. How we choose a president profoundly impacts how campaigns are run, the importance of swing states and an election’s outcome. It’s certainly no surprise that the Electoral College vs. popular vote controversy has sparked considerable debate. As the issue surfaces heading into November, is it time to graduate from the Founding Father's Electoral College concept, or are popularity contests no way to choose a president?
Believing that enforcing majority will is the only purpose of government, a group called “National Popular Vote” is attempting to nullify the Electoral College. Rather than amend the Constitution—the only legitimate way for such a dramatic change—it is lobbying state legislatures to pass a law awarding their electoral votes to whoever wins the most popular votes nationwide. It only takes effect if passed by enough states to have an Electoral College majority. So far, only Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland have adopted National Popular Vote legislation.
The Framers of our Constitution considered many ways to select the President. They declined to give the power to Congress or to state governors for fear of corrupt bargaining between politicians. They rejected using the national popular vote for multiple reasons, including concern that large states or regions or powerful interests might control the outcome. Instead, they created something new and unique and, after 55 presidential elections, uniquely successful.
The Electoral College is made up of 538 Electors. Their only job is to meet once in their own state and vote for president and vice president. Each state has the same number of Electors as its total number of Representatives plus its two Senators; the District of Columbia has three. It takes a majority—the votes of 270 of the 538 electors—to win the presidency. If no candidate gets a majority, then the House of Representatives elects the President.
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