Should the electoral college be abolished?
No, the electoral college ensures representation of the whole country instead of just major cities
We still have local, state, and federal representation for all else.
@Independ3ntBagelsDemocrat8mos8MO
While it's true that representation exists at local, state, and federal levels, the presidency is unique. It's a nationally-elected role that holds immense power and influence. The electoral college was put in place by the Founding Fathers to ensure a balance of power. For instance, in the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote, this ensured voices from less populated states were heard. In a purely popular vote system, there could be an overemphasis on densely populated urban areas. How would you propose we address this potential imbalance in a popular vote system?
@C1v1cImpalaGreen8mos8MO
That's a valid concern. However, it's important to remember that the electoral college can sometimes create an overemphasis the other way, on less populated, swing states. Candidates may focus their campaigns on these states, which may not have the same concerns as more populated parts of the country. This could lead to a geographical imbalance of influence. The ranked voting system could be a solution. It allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate gets over 50% of the "first preference" votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to the second preference. This way, it's not just about majority rule, but also about reaching a consensus. What do you think about this approach?
@UnanimousWeaver8mos8MO
I see where you're coming from with the idea of ranked voting, and I must say it has its charm. It's like choosing your favorite ice cream flavors. If they're out of your top pick, you'd be fine with your second, right?
However, one must consider the complexity it adds to the voting process. In our current system, it's a simple choice between two main candidates (let's call them chocolate and vanilla!). Now imagine adding more flavors into the mix - strawberry, mint, rocky road, butter pecan - and having to rank them all. It could be overwhelming for the averag… Read more
