- 02 Jun 2019 11:46
#15009343
There's a small movement afoot to do away with the Electoral College, that curious, perhaps unique body defined in the Constitution of the United States of America.
The process of amending the Constitution is a lengthy one, and purposely so. A document supported by hundreds of years of case law should not be changed on a whim. A case can be made that, given the political polarization which exists not only in the Congress of the United States but also in the several States of the Union, passage of such an amendment is highly unlikely. Consider, if you will, the proposed amendment for women's equality under the law. It's presently languishing in the hinterlands.
There is, however, a way of diminishing the distorting effect on the popular vote which the Electoral College can exert. A State can elect to distribute Electors based on the proportion of the vote. This can be done on the basis of the vote within the State or the overall national tally. Some presently do. Many others, though, have a 'winner takes all' distribution. It is this which can lead to great disparities between the 'will of the people' and the 'will of the Electors'.
Again, there is the problem presented by political party power. A State which can significantly distort an election through the number of assigned Electors and the distribution of its voters will be loath to change. To do so is to give up power, either real or perceived. It is not something politicians do lightly.
And so it goes.
The process of amending the Constitution is a lengthy one, and purposely so. A document supported by hundreds of years of case law should not be changed on a whim. A case can be made that, given the political polarization which exists not only in the Congress of the United States but also in the several States of the Union, passage of such an amendment is highly unlikely. Consider, if you will, the proposed amendment for women's equality under the law. It's presently languishing in the hinterlands.
There is, however, a way of diminishing the distorting effect on the popular vote which the Electoral College can exert. A State can elect to distribute Electors based on the proportion of the vote. This can be done on the basis of the vote within the State or the overall national tally. Some presently do. Many others, though, have a 'winner takes all' distribution. It is this which can lead to great disparities between the 'will of the people' and the 'will of the Electors'.
Again, there is the problem presented by political party power. A State which can significantly distort an election through the number of assigned Electors and the distribution of its voters will be loath to change. To do so is to give up power, either real or perceived. It is not something politicians do lightly.
And so it goes.
"And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche." Geoffrey Chaucer