Essay Sample on Should Electoral College Be Abolished

Every four years in the United States, two candidates compete for the Presidential title. One of the biggest factors that solidifies their position, is the number of votes they receive. Most of the time, the candidate with the most votes is the same as the Electoral College’s decision. In some cases however, the Electoral College chooses a candidate who does not have the popular vote, causing confusion and questioning of if the popular vote was correct. Many people believe that doing away with the Electoral College and using a popular vote system as an alternative would create more fair voting conditions. In the United States, abolishing the Electoral College in presidential elections would not only benefit the candidates, but it would benefit smaller states and create a larger voter turnout, as well as a less confusing voting system.

The Electoral College is a system where there are electors chosen to represent each of the 50 states. Each elector casts their vote for whichever candidate is more popular in their home state. However, they cannot vote for a candidate who was born in their original home state. The number of electors from each state is the same, and is not based on the population or size of each state. The amount of electoral votes though, is based on population, and each state has at least three. Smaller states like Maine or Wyoming, have less of an effect on the election as a whole. The ten smallest states only share 32 electoral votes between them. Because they are smaller, their population tends to lead towards one party or another. Bigger states like Texas or Florida, have more of an advantage because of their bigger populations, even if they usually are more divided or are categorized as a battleground state. Even if about half of the voters choose one candidate, if the other candidate is winning and is chosen by the Electoral College, the winning candidate receives all of the electoral votes for that state. It is not only unfair, but it is giving bigger states a huge advantage, leaving the smaller states in the background. By doing away with the Electoral College, states would not have to go head-to-head with each other. Instead, each vote would have a more equal and distinct impact, also making the voting process much more personal. 

More Americans are leaning towards abolishing the electoral college each year. In a poll conducted by Gallup, 61% of adults supported abolishing the system, while only 38% would like to keep it (Brenan). Some surprising past supporters of the electoral college, and advocates for its creation were smaller states, like Vermont or North Dakota. They believed it would give them a greater say in the election, but as it turned out, it did just the opposite. In 1803, the Twelfth Amendment was proposed, and it was ratified in 1804, developing the Electoral College. Even with the rising number of people advocating for the abolition of the Electoral College, the ability to change the The Constitution is very rarely achievable. 

Every election in the United States besides the Presidential election, is through popular vote. A benefit of the popular vote system is that it can encourage voter turnout because voters will feel like their vote counts at a national level, rather than at a local level (Gaille). While the upsides of using a popular vote system are clear, the downsides are still present. If there happened to be a very close election, a full recount of votes might be brought about. The Electoral College system could still require a recount of all votes though, even if the amount of votes are clear. Third parties like the Libertarian or Green parties in the United States already do not have a large influence in Presidential elections, and the popular vote system could diminish their influence even more. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in almost all cases. 

In the 2016 Presidential election, Donald Trump won against Hillary Clinton with 304 Electoral votes, whereas Clinton only had 227. While Trump had more Electoral votes, Clinton had won the popular vote with a total of 65,844,610 votes, which is two million votes more than her opposing candidate. Clinton’s supporters blamed various websites, Russian hackers, and “... the undemocratic nature of the electoral college for her defeat” (Beckwith). Even before the historic election, Trump had created a divided and sometimes hostile political environment. After the election, his presidency is known to be counterproductive in some cases. He faced a lot of backlash for most of his actions. Many voters wanted to replace Trump with a President who would correct the problems created during his presidency, which led the 2020 Presidential election to have the highest voter turnout of the 21st century. Voters realized that when only so many people cast their votes, the Electoral College is easily swayed. If there had been a popular vote system, the 2016 Presidential election would have had a very different outcome, along with more voter participation. 

Using a popular vote system for future Presidential elections is the best alternative to the Electoral College, which is an unfair and unbalanced system. Confusion caused by the Electoral College would be no more, and people who are able to vote will feel like their vote counts. Electoral votes will not impact the outcome, and there would be no electors from each state, making the voting process simpler and more efficient. Voter turnout will grow, and all 50 states will not have to go head-to-head with each other. The road to abolishing the Electoral College is a long and winding one, but it is necessary for the fairness and security of future elections.