Better Election System: Popular Vote or Electoral College?

Better Election System: Popular Vote or Electoral College?

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?

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  • arvin
    Electoral College

    Thanks but no thanks, I don't want the East Coast, California and Florida making choices for the rest of us. The Electoral College makes our vote relevant here in fly-over country.

    - arvinUS August 29, 2008 4:49AM

    Reply to this Recommend (1) Icon flag Side: Electoral College

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    • lostlo
      You already have much more say than Californians

      The only reason California would have more say is that it has more people. You really think that it's wrong for the majority of the population to have the majority say? Also, you're wrong if you're under the common delusion that California is an entirely liberal state that would vote 100% democratic - not a chance.

      We are already disenfranchised in Congress... each representative in the house does not represent an equal number of people, we Californians already get substantially less "say" than any other state.

      Why do you believe that a few people (in "fly-over country") should be able to dictate decisions with undue weight on the east coast and California? Is your opinion more important than mine?

      - lostloUS October 20, 2008 8:55AM

      Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag Side: Popular Vote

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  • Tara Ross
    Tara Ross is the author of "Enlightened Democracy: The Case for the Electoral College" (2004) and a co-author of "Under God: George Washington and the Question... More

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