Is The Electoral College Fair?

Introduction

The Electoral College has long been a topic of debate in the United States, with critics arguing that it is an outdated and unfair system for electing the President. While supporters of the Electoral College argue that it ensures a fair and balanced representation of all states, there are several reasons why many believe it is not a fair system.

Is The Electoral College Fair?

One of the main criticisms of the Electoral College is that it can result in the winner of the popular vote losing the election. This has happened several times in US history, including most recently in the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump (National Archives, 2017). This outcome can be seen as unfair as it means that the will of the majority of voters is not being reflected in the outcome of the election.

Another criticism of the Electoral College is that it gives disproportionate power to smaller states. Each state is given a certain number of electoral votes based on its population, with smaller states having a higher number of electoral votes per capita than larger states (Edwards, 2004). This means that voters in smaller states have more influence over the outcome of the election than voters in larger states, which can be seen as unfair. This disparity raises questions about the true democratic nature of the system.

Furthermore, the winner-take-all system used by most states in the Electoral College can also be seen as unfair. Under this system, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that state's electoral votes. This means that even if a candidate only wins the popular vote by a small margin, they will receive all of the state's electoral votes. This can lead to situations where a candidate wins the overall election despite only winning a minority of the popular vote in each state, which many argue is not a fair representation of the will of the people (Bugh, 2010).

Additionally, the Electoral College system often leads to candidates focusing their campaigns on so-called "swing states," neglecting states where they feel secure or have little chance of winning. This strategic focus can result in uneven attention to the issues affecting different regions of the country, further questioning the equity of the Electoral College process.

Conclusion

While the Electoral College may have been designed with the intention of providing a fair and balanced representation of all states, there are several reasons why many believe it is not a fair system. From the potential for the winner of the popular vote to lose the election, to the disproportionate power given to smaller states, to the winner-take-all system used by most states, there are several aspects of the Electoral College that can be seen as unfair. As such, there is a strong argument to be made for reforming or replacing the Electoral College with a system that better reflects the will of the people.

References

• National Archives. (2017). U.S. Electoral College: 2016 Presidential Election. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/2016
• Edwards, G. C. (2004). Why the Electoral College is Bad for America. Yale University Press.
• Bugh, G. (2010). Electoral College Reform: Challenges and Possibilities. Routledge.