When the Constitution was set in place in 1789, the U.S. elected its first president. During the 2012 elections, 38 states, also known as spectator states, were ignored and forgotten. 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. 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. Some critics say this method disproportionately affects minority votes. This text is available online and is used for gudiance and inspiration, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 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. . While we look further into the National Popular Vote, lets investigate some of its pro and cons for the American democracy. 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). In a closely contested direct popular election, every precinct across the country might require close examination, rather than a handful of states or precincts. 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. The Electoral College has also awarded the presidency to candidates with a plurality of the popular vote (under 50 percent) in a number of cases, notably Abraham Lincoln in 1860, John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. 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. What are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the Electoral College? 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. However, many people believe that a direct popular election is more democratic and fair than the Electoral College. 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. For instance, if you have a score of 659 and are borrowing 75% of the home's value, you'll pay a fee equal to 1.5% of the loan balance whereas you'd pay no fee if you had a 780+ credit score. Rebekah Richards is a professional writer with work published in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Brandeis University Law Journal" and online at tolerance.org. 4. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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. Often ignored, Americans had a lesson on the workings of the Electoral College after the 2000 election, in which Al Gore won the popular vote but George W. Bush became president. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that could determine the ability of state law enforcement agencies to use civil asset forfeiture, a practice that four states have abolished entirely. The candidate who placed second in the popular vote was elected in 2016, 2000, 1888, 1876, and 1824. Texas has 38. Or the opposite could be true. It would reduce the influence of third parties on the U.S. presidential election. The states that join the NPV Compact will not be able to certify their Electoral College Votes until all 50 states and DC certify their state popular votes and any mandated/requested recounts since the Compact state ECVs are dependent on the winner of the national popular vote and not just their own state popular votes. The Founding Fathers chose it as a compromise between allowing Congress to choose the president and having the president elected directly by the popular vote of the people. 9. Watch out! And in 1888, Benjamin Harrison defeated the incumbent president, Grover Cleveland, in the Electoral College, despite losing the popular vote. In theory we could change how we elect our president every four years. Electors are chosen every four years in the months leading up to Election Day by their respective states political parties. Pro: It's the only way to avoid defaulting. 3. At the moment, 98 more electoral votes are needed to pass this bill in all 50 states (National Conference of State Legislators). Bring about direct popular election of pres and do within change. It was even a talking point among 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. This new series from the AP is dedicated to answering commonly asked questions from our audience about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Additionally, the Founders reasoned that the system would prevent states with larger populations from having an unequal influence on the election. Following the unprecedented and volatile 2020 presidential race when the popular vote winner was clear on Election Night, but final results still took days it's never been more clear that the Electoral College needs a major overhaul. 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. The senators in the U.S. Senate make up two votes in addition to the votes that represent the number of its members in the U.S. House of Representatives (Archives). Many Americans are confused about how a win is obtained under these conditions and are on a quest to change this traditional statute. In the 2016 election, only 58 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. Surprisingly enough, the National Popular Vote bill could possibly bring forth some problems. The votes of those who do not live in closely divided battleground states effectively count less. 15 states and Washington, D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote compact. In 2016, Gary Johnson received 4.48 million votes and 0 electoral votes, but the potential is always there for this to happen. The important number is 270. It only takes five people with life tenure to actually amend this Constitution through a judicial opinion, she said. However, some critics argue that the advantages of a direct popular election including reflecting democratic principals, outweigh the disadvantages. 8. The selection of presidential electors is specifically entrusted to the states by the Constitution. Electoral College. Under the current structure of the electoral college, the focus of a presidential campaign is on the so-called battleground states. After students have completed their handouts, have them debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College. They voted for a variety of candidates not on the ballot: Bernie Sanders, Colin Powell and Ron Paul, among others. 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. Under the electoral college system, if a state consistently pulls as leaning to one party, someone who supports the other party may not vote because they feel like there isnt a need to do so. When you talk about the Electoral College shaping the election, it shapes the election all the time because it puts the focus on certain states and not others, said Alexander Keyssar, a professor of history and social policy at Harvard University. 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 How does the system currently work? And thats not how it should be in a democracy. Yes, and that is what happened in 2016: Although Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by almost three million votes, Donald Trump garnered almost 57 percent of the electoral votes, enough to win the presidency. The electoral college is a group of electors, outlined and defined in the United States Constitution, established for the purpose of electing the president and vice-president. Home| Government| Elections| Electoral College| Electoral College Pros And Cons. Advantage: Encourages Voter Turnout Moving to the popular vote structure would eliminate this potential issue. NCSL helps draft bills, organize workshops and convene legislative-executive teams. After the 2000 election, a majority of Americans favored . Lastly, the biggest problem that the Electoral College produces is the reality that a persons vote really doesnt matter (Black). Its just like in tennis, he said. 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. Students may work individually or in small groups. That created a voter value of 2.85. But for those people who feel that changing how we elect the president should only be done by constitutional amendment they will feel that using the NPV Compact will undermine the legitimacy of the process even though its perfectly legal and constitutional. 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. 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. Although the 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides clarity to this situation, that process is based on the electoral college. People call them faithless electors. In 2016, seven electors 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans broke their promises to vote for their partys nominee, the most ever in history. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the president. Lara Maupin has a Masters Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from George Washington University and a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. By adding this new interstate compact to the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system to elect our president we are in fact making this system even more complicated and even harder for the voters to understand. A shift of a relative handful of votes in one or two states would have elected the second-place candidate in six of the last 12 presidential elections. Electoral votes are designated among the states based on Census. 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. That is hardly a mandate for governing, though it would be taken as such. Even the minority party wouldnt be encouraged to negotiate because they could simply stall until the next election. The idea has public support, but faces a partisan divide, since Republicans currently benefit from the electoral clout of less populous, rural states. Analyzes how william j.d. The National Bonus Plan was proposed by historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. 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. Reduces the costs of national presidential campaigns. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria, Samploon, Inc. 2023. Thats the way it has been in this country for a long time. The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Some areas may bend the rules of an election by extending voting hours illegally. (LogOut/ That would likely reduce the number of voters who cast a ballot in each election as most people are more concerned about local impacts than national policies. It would eliminate the threat of a faithless elector. 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. I will explain that in another blog post. But . Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. 211 Next Processes vary from state to state, with some choosing electors during state Republican and Democratic conventions. This four-part series, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, will explore key topics in election administration such as funding, voter registration list maintenance, post-election audits and voting technology in conversations with each of the agency's four commissioners. Fellows will focus on important federal legislation, and find ways they can improve their state's child welfare program. Their vote only counts at the local level, not the national level, because of the electoral votes. 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 Pros and Cons of the Electoral College - SmartAsset The electoral college is a tradition of American politics that's fairly controversial. In Election 2000, the eight most populous states had 228. Definition and Examples. Because of the Winner-Take-All state laws candidates for president only campaign and spend their money in 12-13 swing states because voters in those few swing states determine who wins the election and presidential candidates totally ignore voters in the rest of the country(except to raise money). Individual states agree to pledge their electors to the winner of the national popular vote, provided that enough other states follow suit. National bonus plan. Other presidents who lost the popular vote but won the presidency include John Quincy Adams and Rutherford B. Hayes in the elections of 1824 and 1876. The NPV Interstate Compact does not eliminate the very complicated Electoral College system that most voters dont really understand. Explain that each state and the District of Columbia are given a share of the electoral vote based on population. It happened once, in 1876. The cost of a presidential election in the United States is already several billion dollars. On average, studies show that falls in line with historical averages showing around 60 percent of eligible voters casting a vote in presidential election years. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but Trump won the Electoral College. Lastly, some Americans believe that there would be an increase in voter turn-out if people felt that their vote was viewed as a significant asset to their country. They will do as promised if the candidates do a very good job vetting them and picking people who are rock-solid, Professor Amar said. cons of the national popular vote planproperty management without a license in texas aot 4, 2022 12:34 . In the early 19th century, many states ratified an approach that would allow the candidate with the most votes in that state to be the winner. If a popular vote were allowed to declare a winner instead, it wouldnt be through a state-by-state counting of electoral votes. The use of the Electoral College has been the only approach the U.S. has used to gain a President, but this way has generated numerous issues. A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. This advance is referred to as the winner-take-all approach. Gordon Kaye, 68, of Tampa, Florida was reported missing on April 26. I fear that most, if not all, of the states signing onto the NPV Compact will be just blue states. 4 terms. Some states replace electors and cancel their votes if they break their pledge. Our experts will write for you an essay on any topic, with any deadline and requirements from scratch, Electoral College and National Popular Vote Pros and Cons. [ 1] Probably the NPV Compact would be enacted into law with as little as a simple majority of the states and possibly even less. Understand how the Electoral College system works. Although Al Gore won the popular vote, George W. Bush earned more electoral votes after a contested Florida recount and a Supreme Court decision. In the case of a tie, there are contingencies in place to determine which person will serve in the elected office. However, there are proposals to reform the Electoral College without abolishing it. The National Popular Vote plan would eliminate what critics of the Electoral College system point to as the "winner-take-all" rule - the awarding all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in that state. Under the National Popular Vote plan,the compact would take effect only when enabling legislation has been enacted by states collectively possessing a majority of the electoral votes:270 of 538 total. Unless the national popular vote was very close, or there were all lot of recounts outstanding, the Compact states in most cases would effectively know what the outcome would be and could be prepared to certify their state votes very quickly to make the Electoral College meeting date deadline. Because there is now an even number of electoral votes, a tie is feasible. Only Nebraska and Maine do not. Since the Constitution and the Bill of Rights became governing documents in the United States, there have only been 17 amendments made to it. National popular vote plan. 1. 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. 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. Richards earned a master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University. By its very nature, the Electoral College system is confusing. That means the bill needs 74 votes to reach a 270 majority, putting it into effect across the country . The National Popular Vote would go into effect when states controlling 270a simple majorityof the total 538 electoral votes. It would reduce the threshold necessary to win the office. Electors are chosen by the states to actually cast the official votes for president. Using the NPV system means that every vote counts the same. To determine the National Popular Vote winner, state election officials simply would tally the nationwide vote for president based on each states official results. Under the electoral college system of voting, the number of representatives a state has in Congress (Senators and Representatives) is the total number of electoral votes it is allowed. PBS: What does voter turnout tell us about the 2016 election. Today, opinions on the future of the Electoral College range from protecting it as the basis of American democracy to abolishing it completely as an ineffective and obsolete system that may not accurately reflect the will of the people. 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. We have seen this outcome in the 2016 Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and in the 2000 election between George H.W. The winner of the states popular vote gets two electoral votes, and one vote is awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each congressional district. The Supreme Court has said in local and state elections voting should be based on the principle of one person one vote. Gives too few states too much electoral power. There are logistical issues that are managed at the local level in each election. New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, Hear from two columnists with different political ideologies discuss the week in politics, Hear New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics. That means every state is allowed a minimum of 3 electoral votes. And finally, the Electoral College doesnt work today anywhere near how the Founding Fathers intended it to work when they created it back in 1787. 805 15th Street, NW, Suite 800 Some hope to reduce the Electoral Colleges importance without an amendment. While it has provided a stable and predictable framework for presidential elections, it has also produced several controversial outcomes. Image the country thinks it is going to elect the president by National Popular Vote and then changing back to using the old Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system just four months before an election. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 13 Early College High School Pros and Cons, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. That would give the Compact states only 3 days( and two of those days were weekend days) to certify their state votes. These are the states that may go to either major party candidate in the election. Using a popular vote system, candidates could campaign regionally, targeting major areas of support, to secure enough votes to win an election. If this happens many people in the red states will not feel that the change is legitimate even if its legal and technically constitutional. A candidate may not have to concentrate anymore, but they may have to move their attention to states such as Texas, New York, California, and Alaska. In 2016, Florida had 29 electoral votes and 9.4 million voters, created a voter value of 0.72. "Electoral College Pros and Cons." Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right Loading Home Buying Calculators (Until the ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became vice president.). Thats how the framers of the Constitution set it up. What Happens if There Is a Tie in the Electoral College? 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. For years there have been debates about abolishing the Electoral College entirely, with the 2016 election bringing the debate back to the surface. "Electoral College Pros and Cons." Imagine a scenario where a presidential candidate focuses on Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, OR and Seattle. At that stage, anyone who received an electoral vote is eligible to become the next president. 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. Some states list electors names on the general election ballot. 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. And the American citizens who live in territories like Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not represented by any electors. Analyze and debate the pros and cons of the Electoral College system. 2. That means a candidate who receives a majority of their votes in a high-delegate state, such as California, could make a dramatic impact on the rest of the election. Anyone can read what you share. The winner would receive all of the compact states electoral votes, giving them at least the necessary 270 to win the White House. For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff. 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. Why does the system continue? Note: Today we are in a phase where the popular vote in presidential elections leans Democratic. April 23, 2023. . In a stark example, sparsely populated Wyoming has three votes and a population of about 580,000, giving its individual voters far more clout in the election than their millions of counterparts in densely populated states like Florida, California and New York. Regional candidates could secure enough votes to win a national election. The Electoral College also inspires many what-if scenarios, some of them more likely than others. 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 Early Learning Fellows Program is a year long opportunity to legislators and legislative staff particularly interested in the topic of early care and education. The electoral college encourages a two-party system and rewards candidates who have broad appeal. The National Popular Vote effort is now halfway to its goal of electing future presidents via the popular vote, after Rhode Island . The Pros and Cons of Pooled Employer Plans: Debate. cons of the national popular vote plan By April 20, 2023 April 20, 2023 power bi if statement with multiple conditions on cons of the national popular vote plan In a direct popular election, a candidate could theoretically win without having broad support throughout the country. The decision on vice president goes to the newly elected Senate, with each senator casting a vote. There was a lot of confusion over how Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016. That would increase the amount of polarization being experienced in politics today because there would be less of a need to compromise. 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. The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors and a majority of 270 electoral votes is mandatory to nominate the President. Discuss. Every state is allocated several votes according to the number of senators and representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation. 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. After the process, the President of the Senate reveals who has officially been voted in as President and Vice President of the United States. Many of these states dont participate in campaign visits or get televised ads. And that would lead to chaos in how political parties campaign for president and could also undermine the legitimacy of the process. As of 2020, the state with the largest number of votes is California, with 55 electoral votes. Because every vote is equal inside Ohio or Florida, presidential candidates avidly seek out voters in small, medium, and large towns.