Today, Explained Electoral College dropout
Mar 21, 2019
Andy Rudalevige, a government professor at Bowdoin College and an Electoral College expert, dives into the heated debate surrounding this foundational voting system. He explains the historical roots of the Electoral College and contrasts it with calls for a national popular vote. The conversation highlights recent movements to reform or abolish this system and explores how demographic shifts are reshaping electoral conversations. Rudalevige emphasizes the importance of civic education to ensure fair representation in modern democracy.
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Electoral College Origins
- The Electoral College is a system of separate state elections that collectively determine the president.
- It arose from a compromise between those who wanted a popular vote and those who wanted Congress to choose.
Constitutional Debates
- In 1787, the Founding Fathers debated presidential selection amidst concerns about mob rule and state representation.
- Some delegates, like George Mason, preferred elite selection over popular vote due to public limitations.
First Election
- The Electoral College's impact wasn't initially significant because George Washington's presidency was unanimous.
- It primarily redistributed, or even blunted, the already unified national sentiment at the time.