The Electoral College

[Editorial]

Yes, we have to do away with the Electoral College, it is an idea whose time has passed. The Electoral College was created because the writers of the Constitution did not trust the voter to vote the right way. The slave states were concerned that the popular northern could out vote the southern states and do away with slavery, so the Electoral College was to be a buffer against that possibility. And don’t forget that the voters were only male property owners had the right to vote.

The National Archives writes,

The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. However, the term “electoral college” does not appear in the Constitution. Article II of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment refer to “electors,” but not to the “electoral college.”

It time has come but what to put in its place?

Back in the colony days, the vote had to carried by horseback to the state capitol and then carried by horseback to Washington DC. It could take months to get to Washington. But now we can know the results of the election in hours not months.

If we go to the popular vote, with the winner getting the most vote I think there is a problem with that. In a two way race there is no problem but in a 3 or more way election someone might not get over 50% of the vote, the vote might be like candidate A 37%, candidate B 32%, and candidate C with 31% of the vote. Not one candidate has over 50% of the votes.

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Here in Connecticut we have a novel election law that I agree with. It is called "cross-endorsement" or "cross-nomination" and allows a candidate to be on the ballot more than once. For example, Governor Lamont was on the ballot for the Democrats and the Working Families Party so a vote for him on Working Families Party party line will count for him and the vote for him on Working Families Party will also count with the total votes for them.

You say “What a minute! That’s not fair! He is on the ballot twice!” Yes, but you can only vote once. Just because the Working Families Party wanted him on their ballot it should not exclude him from being the Democrat’s choice.

I like it because it gives the voter a choice. I want Governor Lamont for governor but I want to send a signal to the Democrats that I don’t like their platform that I am more in tune with the Working Families Party’s platform but I am still able to vote for Lamont.

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So besides changes to the Constitution to do away with the Electoral College, I propose a runoff election of the two top candidates so whoever is elected will have over 50% of the votes and to have "cross-endorsement."

I will not vote for a third party candidate nationally unless they show that they can win on the state level or if there is "cross-endorsement." I vote for the Working Families Party because I know that my vote will not be wasted. In this national election voting for a third party is a vote for Trump.

 

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State like Connecticut Rhode Island... we are nothing under the Electoral College. The only time either party candidate stops here is to raise money. Connecticut's seven Electoral votes means nothing to the candidates. You only need to win these state to win...

California (54 votes)

Texas (40 votes)

Florida (30 votes)

New York (28 votes)

Illinois (19 votes)

Pennsylvania (19 votes)

Ohio (17 votes)

Georgia (16 votes)1

Michigan (15 votes)

North Carolina (16 votes)

New Jersey (14 votes)

Politicians don't care about any other states, we are just window dressing.

 

For me, I’m voted for the woman with Integrity, Honor, & Character and not for the con artist.