For the popular vote, however, Hillary Clinton received 65.8 million votes, while Donald Trump received 62.9 million votes. President Trump had earned 232 electoral votes. Others may struggle to meet higher than expected voter turnout levels. The electoral requires that an election which does not receive a majority of electoral votes be taken into the U.S. House of Representatives. All Rights Reserved, How 2016 put pressure on the Electoral College. (2021, Jun 14). Gives too few states too much electoral power. SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. This divide creates natural divisions between groups of people who both support their country, but in different ways. However that presumably rare exception happened in the 2000 election when Florida could not complete their statewide recount in time for the Electoral College deadline and the Supreme Court forced Florida to use their first vote count without a statewide recount. Because its so hard to get an amendment to the Constitution passed that means that once it becomes law it will probably remain so for a long time because the bar to change it back is so high. The allotment of the extra votes would almost always ensure that the person who wins the popular vote would also win the Electoral College. While we look further into the National Popular Vote, lets investigate some of its pro and cons for the American democracy. The National Popular Vote; States in the National Popular Vote Compact; Voter Trends in 2016; Public Opinion on the Electoral College; What Congress Is Doing on the Electoral College; Pros & Cons of Ending Surprise Medical Billing; Pros & Cons of Mail-In Voting; Pros & Cons of Ending Surprise Medical Billing; PROs. That principle should be expanded to presidential elections. Consequently, they decided that using the proxy votes of the well-informed electors would lessen the risk of tyranny of the majority, in which the voices of the minority are drowned out by those of the masses. Retrieved from https://samploon.com/electoral-college-and-national-popular-vote-pros-and-cons/, Should the Electoral College Be Abolished, Pros for The Electoral College in the United States, Electoral College is Undemocratic but We Have no Better System, The Electoral College Should Be Terminated, The Electoral College Annotated Bibliography. Rural voters would almost always be in the minority. 6. Definition and Examples. An individuals vote doesnt make a difference when it is counted against the votes of the delegates in the House of Representatives and Senate. Presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, or campaign in states that they cannot possibly win or lose; in 2016, 68% of presidential campaign visits took place in just six states. It remains one of the most surprising facts about voting in the United States: While the popular vote elects members of Congress, mayors, governors, state legislators and even more obscure local officials, it does not determine the winner of the presidency, the highest office in the land. 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. That would give the Compact states only 3 days( and two of those days were weekend days) to certify their state votes. Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement where states in the compact award all their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, no matter which presidential candidate wins in their state, says CU Boulder political scientist Ken Bickers. The Founders believed that most common citizens of the day were poorly educated and uninformed on political issues. Removing this system could encourage more people to come out to support their candidate. Some states list electors names on the general election ballot. It would reduce the influence of third parties on the U.S. presidential election. . Prevents disputed outcomes ensuring a peaceful transition of power. Donald Trump won the presidential election by securing 304 electoral votes, compared to Hillary Clintons 227 electoral votes. The itineraries of presidential candidates in battleground states (and their allocation of other campaign resources) demonstrate what every gubernatorial or senatorial candidate in every state already knows namely that when every vote matters, the campaign must be run in every part of the state. Donald Trump won the presidential election by securing 304 electoral votes, compared to Hillary Clinton's 227 electoral votes. I fear that most, if not all, of the states signing onto the NPV Compact will be just blue states. Inside Ohio or Florida, to pick two examples, the big cities do not receive all the attention, and they certainly do not control the outcome. 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. Common Cause 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. Many Americans are confused about how a win is obtained under these conditions and are on a quest to change this traditional statute. More people live in urban regions, which means they would have a constant sway over the election. 4. That could change on Nov. 3 of course, because all House seats are up for election. Disadvantages of the NPV Interstate Compact. Bush and Al Gore (Black). It would be a national mandate to put someone in office, even if that winning candidate received less than 50% of the vote. The Early Learning Fellows Program is a year long opportunity to legislators and legislative staff particularly interested in the topic of early care and education. To become president of the United States of America, you must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years and be a natural-born citizen. 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. If that was to take place, America could potentially face the same issues it is facing now. How about receiving a customized one? The amendment requires that any change to the rate of compensation for members of Congress can only take effect after a subsequent election in the House of Representatives. National popular vote plan. The House of Representatives picked Adams over Andrew Jackson, who won the popular vote but only a plurality of the Electoral College. Four candidates in history have won the popular vote only to be denied the presidency by the Electoral College. I will explain that in another blog post. 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. Under the current structure of presidential elections in the U.S., the states become a battleground of red states vs. blue states. Analysis of the Congressional-District Method of Awarding Electoral Votes Summary Under the congressional-district method of awarding electoral votes, one electoral vote is awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in each of a state's congressional districts. To determine the National Popular Vote winner, state election officials simply would tally the nationwide vote for president based on each states official results. Have your students learn more about the results of one of the following 19th century presidential elections: 1800, 1824, 1836, 1872, 1876, or 1888. And that would undermine the legitimacy of the NPV among those people. Electoral College Pros and Cons. The Electoral College is very undemocratic and riddled with issues. All in all, the Electoral College causes many problems that seem unfair to American voters during such an important election. 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. What would happen during a switch to the popular vote would be unknown. In the 2016 election, "swing states" that might vote Republican or Democrat like Wisconsin were targets of candidates Donald J. Trump and Hillary R. Clinton. The National Popular Vote compact would have the same effect as a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College but has the benefit of retaining the power to control presidential elections in states hands. At a time of little national identity and competition among the states, there were concerns that people would favor their regional candidates and that big states with denser populations would dominate the vote. Before the 2016 election, the largest vote deficit in the popular vote was Al Gore securing over 500,000 votes more than George W. Bush. But with the NPV Compact a change in party control of just one or two states could restore the old system of electing the president and then four years later it could be changed back. The official 2016 election results from the Electoral College gave Donald J. Trump the victory with 306 electoral votes v. Hillary Clinton's 232 votes. The electoral college encourages a two-party system and rewards candidates who have broad appeal. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that are not affected by this approach. There would be a reduced need to build coalitions. It would reduce the threshold necessary to win the office. The decision on vice president goes to the newly elected Senate, with each senator casting a vote. In U.S. history, the electoral college winner has failed to secure the popular vote 5 times. But . But theres a separate movement that calls for a compact of states to allocate all their electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, regardless of how those individual states opted in an election. A faithless elector in the United States is someone who casts an electoral ballot for someone other than the individuals to whom they are pledged. The official general election results indicate that Trump received 304 Electoral College votes and 46.09% of the popular vote (62,984,825 votes), and Hillary Clinton received 227 Electoral College votes and 48.18% of the popular vote (65,853,516 votes). https://www.nytimes.com/article/the-electoral-college.html. Second, some believe itll intensify election problems, such as illegally extended voting hours or irregularly high voter turnout (Richards). As with other powers entrusted to the states, it is an application, not a circumvention, of the Constitution when the states utilize those powers as they see fit. In theory we could change how we elect our president every four years. And the American citizens who live in territories like Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not represented by any electors. Today the Democrats want to replace the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system with a direct popular vote and the Republicans adamantly want to keep it. 3. Eliminating the winner-take-all requirement of the Electoral College at the state level would lessen the tendency for the swing states to dominate the electoral process. Sets found in the same folder. A proposal has been made to restore the one person one vote principle without having to change the Constitution which involves an interstate compact. 7. Students may work individually or in small groups. A special commission named by the House chose Hayes over Samuel J. Tilden, after 20 electoral votes in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina were disputed. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: Copyright 2023 NewsHour Production LLC. 9. For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. (They dont always do so.). Advantage: Encourages Voter Turnout The popular vote eliminates this issue too. Prevents disputed outcomes ensuring a peaceful transition of power Reduces the costs of national presidential campaigns. To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one or 270 electoral votes. Lastly, an election-related case could find its way to the Supreme Court, which would lend greater importance to the judicial makeup of the court, Professor Wehle said. The Supreme Court has said in local and state elections voting should be based on the principle of one person one vote. After the 2000 election, a majority of Americans favored . She graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University with bachelor's degrees in creative writing, English/American literature and international studies. Based on Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution granting the states the exclusive power to control how their electoral votes are awarded, the National Popular Vote plan requires the legislature of each participating state to enact a bill agreeing that the state will award all of its electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, regardless of the outcome of the popular vote in that specific state. Robert Longley is a U.S. government and history expert with over 30 years of experience in municipal government and urban planning. NCSL conducts policy research in areas ranging from agriculture and budget and tax issues to education and health care to immigration and transportation. The same thing happened in 2000. Its just like in tennis, he said. Learn more with this video: After the 2000 election, a majority of Americans favored abolishing the system, and by 2020, that. Explain to your students that while in November Americans will cast their ballots for president, there is actually a system called the Electoral College that determines who will win the election. If some of the 50 states and DC cannot certify their popular votes by the December deadline that could create a constitutional crisis where we would not have all of the state Electoral College votes certified by the time the Electoral College is required to vote according to the Constitution. https://www.thoughtco.com/electoral-college-pros-and-cons-4686409 (accessed May 1, 2023). The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact will guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The selection of presidential electors is specifically entrusted to the states by the Constitution. What did they learn about the American system of electing the president from these elections? But in practice it could happen every 10 or 20 years when the Electoral College votes change because the congressional boundaries change with the new population census. Using a popular vote system, candidates could campaign regionally, targeting major areas of support, to secure enough votes to win an election. The obvious reason to keep raising the debt ceiling is that it avoids defaulting on the nation's debts. The system had some unusual results from the start, as evident in the election of 1800, a tie in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received an equal number of electoral votes. Some states, such as California and Hawaii, both had their bills vetoed by their governors before it was overridden and enacted by state legislators. In this issue of Capitol to Capitol NCSL Letter to Congress on Farm Bill Reauthorization and Town Hall, House Republicans Unveil Border Security Bill, and more. 4 terms. What can they conclude from these elections? 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. There are logistical issues that are managed at the local level in each election. Rescue crews are fighting rugged terrain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as search efforts for a missing man remain ongoing. On a close popular vote, often defined as a difference of 0.5% or less in the tabulated results, an automatic recount would likely be triggered. This unique system of electing presidents is a big reason why Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016. The election is held every four years on the first Tuesday in November and prior to election day, the two candidates endure state-level primaries, caucuses, debates, and conventions. 211 Next Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Some states replace electors and cancel their votes if they break their pledge. As an alternative to the long and unlikely method amending the Constitution, critics of the Electoral College are now perusing the National Popular Vote plan designed to ensure that the candidate who wins the overall popular vote in inaugurated president. A close election would trigger the need for a full recount. If that happens in the Electoral College, then the decision goes to the newly seated House of Representatives, with each state voting as a unit. And thats not how it should be in a democracy. Bring about direct popular election of pres and do within change. Breaking News: Biden Vetoes Congressional Resolution Blocking ESG Rule . The National Popular Vote stems from the winner-take-all approach that validates the presidential candidate interactions with only 4 out of 50 dates during their campaign. 5. While it has provided a stable and predictable framework for presidential elections, it has also produced several controversial outcomes. National Popular Vote is a constitutional and practical way to implement nationwide popular election of the President a goal traditionally supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. You can use essay samples to find ideas and inspiration for your paper. In the U.S., that means people who lean Democratic live in urban areas, while people who lean Republican live in rural areas. This would happen in the extremely unlikely situation where this candidate would win just for one vote in some . A direct popular election would make it more possible for third-party candidates to succeed and would also encourage political parties to become more radical and extreme. The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus its two senators. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. NCSL's experts are here to answer your questions and give you unbiased, comprehensive information as soon as you need it on issues facing state legislatures. Thats a bank of about 14 million potential voters that reliably vote as a majority for Democratic candidates. The National Bonus Plan was proposed by historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. lilj512. They voted for a variety of candidates not on the ballot: Bernie Sanders, Colin Powell and Ron Paul, among others. Hence, the National Popular Vote plan is an interstate compact a type of state law authorized by the U.S. Constitution that enables states to enter into a legally enforceable, contractual obligation to undertake agreed joint actions, which may be delayed in implementation until a requisite number of states join in. Americans are still bent up and flustered on how an individual could lose the popular vote, but still, be given the upper hand in Electoral College votes. NCSL Child Welfare Fellows program is designed to support legislators and legislative staff who are experienced or emerging leaders in child welfare policy. What relevance do they have today. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria, Samploon, Inc. 2023. Some critics argue that more people would vote in a direct popular election, according to the University of the Pacific. Although this may limit the amount of diversity that occurs in office, and may generate extra financial costs, the argument could be made that these risks outweigh the results of an election where a majority of states, not a majority of people, put someone into office. Texas has 38. It did not change the outcome. 8. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections: The Electoral College, University of the Pacific: Electoral College Reform, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School: The Electoral College. This leads to an intense focus on battleground states, as candidates look to boost their electoral advantage by targeting states that can help them reach the needed 270 votes of the 538 up for grabs. Congress broke the tie, and Jefferson became president and Burr became vice president. "Pros and cons of the Electoral College it said this about what supporters think about the electoral college "Naturally . Processes vary from state to state, with some choosing electors during state Republican and Democratic conventions. ; Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Every state is allocated several votes according to the number of senators and representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation. Although its not detailed in the Constitution, each state delegation would vote on which candidate to support as a group, with the plurality carrying the day, said Akhil Reed Amar, a professor of law and political science at Yale University. 5. Dont know what Ranked Choice Voting is? Its how many sets you win and not how many games or points you win. There are arguments that the states with smaller populations are overrepresented in the Electoral College, because every state gets at least 3 electors regardless of population. In all states but Maine and Nebraska, the winner of each state will take all of that state's electoral votes. Cleveland ran again four years later and won back the White House. BREAKING NEWS: Announcing the 2022 NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams. That is hardly a mandate for governing, though it would be taken as such. However, in the popular vote, Trump only received 62,984,825 votes against Hillary Clinton's 65,853,516 popular votes.
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