Is the Electoral College the Best Election Process

Is the Electoral College the Best Election Process?

        Our country’s presidential election process is largely the same as it was at the time of the writing of the Constitution.  Many have suggested that this process should be amended to be a more simple and representative one.

        When considering whether or not the Electoral College was a good idea at the time it was created, it is necessary to take into account the historical context and the problems that the Founding Fathers were trying to solve.  There were 13 states of various sizes along the Atlantic, all of which valued their individual states’ rights and powers and were fearful of a strong, centralized government.  Aside from the fact that there was such a large distance between many of these states, it is also important to understand that amid about four million people, there was very little communication or transportation to connect the states.  Against this backdrop, at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, in Philadelphia, the foundation of the Electoral College, as it is today, was formed (Origin and History).

        At first, it was thought that the newly formed Congress should elect the president; however, that idea was quickly discarded.  The main debate was whether or not the voting should be based on a direct popular election, where the total number of votes from every citizen is tallied up, or by a separate body who would meet during the election period, called the Electoral College, and cast votes from the state that they are representing.  After weeks of debates and proposals, the idea of the Electoral College came about and was put into effect, as described in Article II, Section I of the Constitution.  Each state was to receive a number of Electors, equal to the number of Senators (two per state) plus the number of representatives each state has in the House.  How the state chose the Electors was completely up to them, except that members of Congress and the federal government were kept from running.  This was to ensure a balance between the executive and legislative branches.  Each set of Electors was to meet in their own state and cast two votes each.  To prevent Electors from simply voting in state, it was decided that only one of each individual’s votes could be for a member of their state.  The votes were then sealed and sent to the President of the Senate, where the votes would be counted and announced.  If there was no candidate who won the majority for either President or Vice President, then the decision would be left to the House of Representatives (Origin).