The framers of the U.S. Constitution created the Electoral College to reduce the risks of corruption, regionalism, and back-room politics. They rejected a national popular vote because it lacked any checks and balances.

The Electoral College forces candidates to build national support, unifying rather than dividing the country. (Our greatest failure of domestic tranquility, the American Civil War, occurred only when other political forces overcame the Electoral College incentives that favor moderate, two-party politics and national unity.)

The Electoral College works even better than the Founding Fathers expected. They thought the system would often deadlock and leave the final decision to the House of Representatives. In fact, Electors became faithful representatives of their states and the election has only gone to the House twice — in 1800 and 1824.

Because most states choose electors by winner-take-all, presidential candidates need both a base of states where they enjoy strong support and then must reach out into the most moderate, evenly balanced states to build a broad enough coalition to win an Electoral College majority.

To become president, a candidate must win a majority of electoral votes — currently 270 out of 538.

The Electoral College turns swing states into microcosms of America, where candidates are forced to go beyond the big cities and reach out to all kinds of people. At the same time, safe states are essential for a party to have any claim to national status or any possibility of winning the presidency. Every state matters.

A dangerous campaign seeks to nullify the Electoral College without changing the Constitution.

 

Chris Cloutier

Richmond

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