The Legacy of the Electoral College

This chapter explores the historical objections to direct presidential voting in the United States, focusing on how voting rights, population disparities, and slavery influenced the Electoral College's creation. It examines the three-fifths compromise, which enabled southern states to enhance their electoral power by counting enslaved individuals, and the implications of this for representation. The chapter also discusses key moments in electoral history, including the 1968 election and the failed constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against segregationist influences in American politics.