Electoral College Advantages

The United States Electoral College is an integral part of America’s political system. In 1787, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention decided on the creation of the Electoral College, or a system under which a body is elected with the expressed purpose of itself electing a higher body. The College was established by Article Two, Section One of the United States Constitution. (Lesson 2: Political Participation, n.d.) The Founding Fathers wished to provide the people of each state the ability every four years to choose the number of electors who would vote in the Electoral College, who would in turn determine which candidate would enter the White House as the nation’s next president. (Watts, 2010) For the past 200 years, the Electoral
One of the biggest advantages of the Electoral College is the firm political stability it provides the nation by encouraging the two-party system. (Kimberling, n.d.) Without the two-party system, votes would be splintered among many candidates and would result in constant recounts and mass confusion. In this way, the system is very transparent and greatly aids in reaching a majority. The College also contributes to the cohesiveness of the country by requiring a distribution of popular support to be elected president. Therefore, it is impossible for one region to hold the absolute majority of required electoral votes. Without this mechanism in place, it is possible that the president would be selected either through the denomination of one populous region over the others, or through the denomination of large metropolitan areas over the rural ones. (Kimberling, n.d.) Another great advantage offered by the College is the enhancement of the status of minority groups. This makes it possible for voters of small minorities, be they ethnic minorities or labor unions, in any given state to make the difference between winning all or none of a state’s electoral votes. (Kimberling, n.d.) Finally, it encourages candidates to view the country as a whole and can offer the framework for establishing and organizing campaigns. (apecsec.org,
Chief among them is the possible role of the Electoral College in depressing or discouraging voter turnout, as voters may feel that their vote has no effect. The Electoral College does not motivate candidates from campaigning for the turnout of voters unless the campaigning is in a “swing state.” (fairvote.org, n.d.) This can give undue power to a swing state, or a state that has two major political parties with similar levels of support among