Although moving to a popular vote election would balance the weight of each vote, it would also create more sway in larger population states. The Electoral College was established in the Constitution to protect minority interests and mitigate the possibility of a regional candidate. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. In 2016, Florida had 29 electoral votes and 9.4 million voters, created a voter value of 0.72. If the presidential election were switched to the popular vote, then it would only take about 35% of the vote for a candidate to win. This is a situation that has caused controversy in the election years of of 1800, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016 when the elected president won the Electoral College and the presidency but did not win the popular vote. Once effective, states could withdraw from the compact at any time except during the six-month window between July 20 of an election year and Inauguration Day (January 20). In theory we could change how we elect our president every four years. NCSL Child Welfare Fellows program is designed to support legislators and legislative staff who are experienced or emerging leaders in child welfare policy. Critics, however, argue that Founders reasoning is no longer relevant as todays voters are better-educated and have virtually unlimited access to information and to the candidates stances on the issues. Dont know what Ranked Choice Voting is? Some scholars have said they do not wholeheartedly agree with the decision, arguing that it endangers an electors freedom to make decisions they want and that electors are usually picked for their loyalty to a candidate or party. The candidate who placed second in the popular vote was elected in 2016, 2000, 1888, 1876, and 1824. The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors and a majority of 270 electoral votes is mandatory to nominate the President. The NPV Interstate Compact does not eliminate the very complicated Electoral College system that most voters dont really understand. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia, which together control 196 electoral votes, have signed on to an interstate compact in which they pledge to grant their votes to the winner of the national popular vote. You have to win the set, and in our system, you have to win the state.. Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. The Electoral College is very undemocratic and riddled with issues. In U.S. history, there has been one vice-presidential candidate who died after being nominated and one that withdrew from their partys ticket. Fair or not fair? If the election is based off a popular vote, each of these areas would need to be closely examined in real-time, which would enhance the security of each vote that is cast. The states' approval of the compact is a victory for democracy and the principle of "one person, one vote." The cost of a presidential election in the United States is already several billion dollars. More people live in urban regions, which means they would have a constant sway over the election. All other votes cast for that candidate are therefore superfluous. If the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact becomes law it would be an excellent first step to help get a future amendment to the Constitution to replace the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system to elect the president with a national popular vote using Ranked Choice Voting. How the US Electoral College System Works, Biography of Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, The Most Lopsided Presidential Elections in US History, Presidential Election of 1800 Ended in a Tie, The Election of 1824 Was Decided in the House of Representatives, How Presidents and Vice Presidents Are Elected, Election of 1800: Thomas Jefferson versus John Adams, Biography of Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, What Is Dealignment? National popular vote - Ballotpedia Give your students this handoutand ask them to use the following online resources (or printouts from these Web sites or of these stories that you provide) in order to complete it. The votes of those who do not live in closely divided battleground states effectively count less. 5. Unexpected emergencies would be difficult to handle. 7. An individuals vote doesnt make a difference when it is counted against the votes of the delegates in the House of Representatives and Senate. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that are not affected by this approach. 2. A total of 538 electoral votes are in play across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The process of choosing electors can be an insiders game, said Kimberly Wehle, a professor at the University of Baltimore and the author of What You Need to Know About Voting and Why. They are often state legislators, party leaders or donors, she said. States boyd, william j.d., "electoral college system challenged." national civic review 55.9 (1966): 519-23. Even the minority party wouldnt be encouraged to negotiate because they could simply stall until the next election. However, that support diverges widely based on political parties, with support from 89 percent of Democrats and only 23 percent of Republicans. The National Popular Vote Plan is an alternative system that would still use electors to cast their votes but instead it would give each state's votes to whichever candidate wins the national popular vote. One of the main critiques of the Electoral College is that because 48 states choose to allocate electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis (the College is established by the Constitution, but the . Certain penalties exist in other states. Rebekah Richards is a professional writer with work published in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Brandeis University Law Journal" and online at tolerance.org. There was a lot of confusion over how Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016. Although Al Gore won the popular vote, George W. Bush earned more electoral votes after a contested Florida recount and a Supreme Court decision. The NPV is a multi-state agreement that, when active, would ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationally also wins in the Electoral College. The pros and cons of the popular vote structure of an election allow for the majority to have their say in who they wish to serve. Because of how the system is set up, it is possible for one candidate to win the popular vote and another to win the electoral vote. Thats how politics works in America.

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