The United States has a representative democracy rather than a direct democracy: Citizens elect representatives rather than voting on each bill. They have only won the popular vote once. In a closely contested direct popular election, every precinct across the country might require close examination, rather than a handful of states or precincts. 27 Major Pros & Cons Of The Electoral College - E&C pros and cons." dave leip's atlas of u.s. presidential elections. Less would get done, which would affect the needs of households at the local level. The senators in the U.S. Senate make up two votes in addition to the votes that represent the number of its members in the U.S. House of Representatives (Archives). Voters in spectator states, including five of the nations 10 most populous states (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey), and 12 of the 13 least populous states (all but New Hampshire) have no real incentive to go to the polls as their votes do not affect the outcome of the election. Even if states impose fines on faithless electors for their actions, it is not a guarantee that the behavior will stop. To pass an amendment to change the Constitution the Founding Fathers wisely required approval by 2/3 of both houses of Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures instead of a simple majority. The electoral college leads to a heavy emphasis on swing states and also typically over-represents citizens in rural states. Why National Popular Vote Would Be a Disaster for America (and NPV 6. (LogOut/ But if some non-member The National Popular Vote initiative transpired in 2006. Around six-in-ten U.S. adults (63%) say the way the president is elected should be changed so that the winner of the popular vote nationwide wins the presidency, while 35% favor keeping the current Electoral College system, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 27-July 4, 2022. Either would provide a reason for both parties to compete in most states because there would be electors to win. Cons: Smaller states don't get as much of a say and people would demand a national recount National Bonus Plan Winner of popular vote gets extra 102 electoral votes Pros: No winner of popular vote losing overall Cons: Basically exactly like the Direct plan District Plan Win popular vote in each district, you get one electoral vote. Disadvantages of the NPV Interstate Compact. In fact, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which has now been adopted by 15 states and the District of Columbia, totaling 196 electoral votes, is an actionable and realistic . 1. Lastly, some Americans believe that there would be an increase in voter turn-out if people felt that their vote was viewed as a significant asset to their country. But the much greater danger to American democracy is that direct elections may make it possible for a president to be elected by no more than 30 percent of the vote, regardless of his or her suitability for office, so long as there is sufficient money and a clever media advisor behind the effort. Because of the winner-take-all rule, a candidate can be elected president without winning the most popular votes nationwide. Privacy Policy. 2. The National Popular Vote plan would eliminate what critics of the Electoral College system point to as the "winner-take-all" rule - the awarding all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in that state. Advantages of the NPV Interstate Compact 1. It would reduce diversity in the election structures. 18 Pros and Cons of Popular Vote - Vittana.org The lack of competition and campaigning in a majority of states owes itself not to the existence of the Electoral College's indirect method of choosing presidents but rather to the winner-take-all method of choosing electors in all but two states. Under the plan, Michigan's 15 Electoral . During the 2012 elections, 38 states, also known as spectator states, were ignored and forgotten. Proportional Plan Because of the state Winner-Take-All rules, which arent even part of the Constitution, they can lead to presidential elections where the winner of the election doesnt have the most popular votes. Americans are still bent up and flustered on how an individual could lose the popular vote, but still, be given the upper hand in Electoral College votes. Majority supports changing Electoral College system for U.S In 6 Elections, 2 Near-Misses (2020, 2004) and 2 Second-Place Presidents (2016, 2000) National Popular Vote Has Been Enacted into Law in 16 Jurisdictions with 195 Electoral Votes. This brings us to 196 of the 270 (73%) electoral votes needed to activate the pact just 74 votes away. Longley, Robert. If the National Popular Vote bill was secured within the American government, it would protect every vote and would allow those votes to equally matter in the presidential election. Without any sort of broad support, the politics of the country could become even more fractured than they already are. This is a situation that has caused controversy in the election years of of 1800, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016 when the elected president won the Electoral College and the presidency but did not win the popular vote. A Critique of the National Popular Vote October 13, 2008 Policy Analysis No. During the 2012 elections, 38 states, also known as spectator states, were ignored and forgotten. I am confident that when we enter the next phase where the popular vote leans Republican that Republicans will change and be adamant that we should elect the president by direct popular vote and Democrats will be arguing why we should keep the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system. Then, election officials in all participating states would choose the electors sworn to support thepresidential candidate who received the largest number of popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The states that join the NPV Compact will not be able to certify their Electoral College Votes until all 50 states and DC certify their state popular votes and any mandated/requested recounts since the Compact state ECVs are dependent on the winner of the national popular vote and not just their own state popular votes. The appeal of NPV is the simplicity of its message. Second, some believe itll intensify election problems, such as illegally extended voting hours or irregularly high voter turnout (Richards). Facts support national popular vote | The Hill Unless the national popular vote was very close, or there were all lot of recounts outstanding, the Compact states in most cases would effectively know what the outcome would be and could be prepared to certify their state votes very quickly to make the Electoral College meeting date deadline. The selection of presidential electors is specifically entrusted to the states by the Constitution. The NPVC is a proposed interstate compact in which the signatory states agree that they will appoint their presidential electors in accordance with the national popular vote rather than their own state electorate's vote. These are the states that may go to either major party candidate in the election. PDF Problems With the National Popular Vote Plan The cost of a presidential election in the United States is already several billion dollars. Under the electoral college, the majority votes of states assign electoral votes to a candidate, which then creates a majority total required for a victory. All other elections in the U.S. are through the popular vote. Some areas may bend the rules of an election by extending voting hours illegally. Today, the fact that Nebraska and Maine do not use the winner-take-all system serves as proof that modifying the Electoral College system, as proposed by the National Popular Vote plan is constitutional and does not require a constitutional amendment. Thats the way it has been in this country for a long time. It is not even a liberal or conservative bill. As of now, 15 states and Washington, D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote compact: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Delaware and Oregon. More attention is given to the swing states, such as Florida and Iowa, which causes the third problem the Electoral College can cause. That created a voter value of 2.85. Hillary Clinton, but won the electoral vote to become the 45thPresident of the United States. Congressional District Method by Riley Dimmock - Prezi This was the intent of the Founding Fathers. Washington, DC 20005, Common Cause pays tribute to our leader, our friend, and a lifelong advocate for our democracy, Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Issues, Ensure Fair Districts & Reflective Democracy, Expand Voting Rights & Election Integrity, Promote Free Speech & Accountability in Media, Protect the Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Reforms. Electoral College Alternatives: What Are the Other Options? - The Daily Dot If you need to flag this entry as abusive. However, many people believe that a direct popular election is more democratic and fair than the Electoral College. Thats a bank of about 14 million potential voters that reliably vote as a majority for Democratic candidates. The Electoral College was established in the Constitution to protect minority interests and mitigate the possibility of a regional candidate. April 8, 2016 National popular vote far better than Electoral College system for choosing presidents, Stanford professors say. ThoughtCo, Dec. 16, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-national-popular-vote-plan-3322047. A plan to enact the National Popular Vote was introduced in the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The bill has passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes. Is the National Popular Vote Plan Constitutional? 3. At the moment, 98 more electoral votes are needed to pass this bill in all 50 states (National Conference of State Legislators). It happened once, in 1876. Surprisingly enough, the National Popular Vote bill could possibly bring forth some problems. Although the 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides clarity to this situation, that process is based on the electoral college. Electoral college reform proposals include (1) the district plan, awarding each state's two at-large electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winners, and one electoral vote to the winning candidates in each congressional district; (2) the proportional plan, awarding electoral votes in states in direct proportion to the popular vote gained Should that happen, then the final decision of who gets to serve as President of the United States is taken away from individual voters. The National Popular Vote plan does not do away with the Electoral College system, an action that would require a constitutional amendment. Just another site cons of the national popular vote plan . The first problem it creates is the opportunity for the loser of the popular vote to win the electoral vote. The Pros and Cons of the Electoral College - SmartAsset And finally, the Electoral College doesnt work today anywhere near how the Founding Fathers intended it to work when they created it back in 1787. Here are the Cons of the Electoral College 1. Six Reasons to Reject National Popular Vote - Pelican Policy PBS: What does voter turnout tell us about the 2016 election. All states could adopt the system that now exists in Maine and Nebraska, where all but two electors are chosen by congressional district, and the other two go to the statewide winner. Even though we will be able to elect the president by national popular vote using the The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, eventually the rules for how we elect the president should be an official part of the Constitution. 3. The National Popular Vote proposal is doomed if even only - LSE Blogs Also the NPV Compact allows states to withdraw from the compact as late as four months before an election. On a close popular vote, often defined as a difference of 0.5% or less in the tabulated results, an automatic recount would likely be triggered. (See: Electoral Votes by State). Research & Policy - National Conference of State Legislatures The alternative view of democracy is more complex; it is one that includes but is not limited to the pursuit of equality. That would give the Compact states only 3 days( and two of those days were weekend days) to certify their state votes. In each instance the republic has survived, and democracy has prospered despite the challenges presented. The pros and cons of the popular vote structure of an election allow for the majority to have their say in who they wish to serve. Either would likely produce an electoral vote count closer to the popular vote. The National Popular Vote stems from the winner-take-all approach that validates the presidential candidate interactions with only 4 out of 50 dates during their campaign. mike matarazzo last photo. on WordPress.com. Part of HuffPost Politics. An individuals vote doesnt make a difference when it is counted against the votes of the delegates in the House of Representatives and Senate. 5. Ken Bickers. ThoughtCo. This divide creates natural divisions between groups of people who both support their country, but in different ways. The bill has crossed paths with 36 legislative chambers and has been sponsored or voted for by 3,112 state legislators (National Popular Vote). That would increase the amount of polarization being experienced in politics today because there would be less of a need to compromise. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. It makes things easier for extreme parties to gain representation. However, in the popular vote, Trump only received 62,984,825 votes against Hillary Clinton's 65,853,516 popular votes. National Popular Vote (NPV) - InfluenceWatch Imperfect, because its modern-day blessings -- enhancing coalition building, pluralism, federalism and grass-roots participation -- are enjoyed only by a minority of states (in any given presidential election 18 or 20), where the battle for electoral votes is competitive for both major parties. 9 Pros and Cons of Electoral College | APECSEC.org According to the Constitution, the Electoral College is a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens (National Archives). In fact, let's tally up all the votes cast for president between 1932 and 2008. on Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, Follow All U.S. Citizens Should Vote. That, in turn, would likely diminish voter turnout. every decade states are redistricted could be redrawn to capture house seats and corrupt the Presidential election June 7, 2022 . Here are the essential pros and cons of popular vote elections to examine. Would you like to get a custom essay? After the 2016 presidential election, political science expert Nate Silver wrote that, since the swing states are not likely to support any plan that might reduce their influence over control of the White House, the National Popular Vote bill will not succeed unless the predominately Republican red states adopt it. If the presidential election were switched to the popular vote, then it would only take about 35% of the vote for a candidate to win. 41 States (with 80% of U.S. population) will be Ignored in the 2024 Presidential Election. Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right Loading Home Buying Calculators Evidence as to how a nationwide presidential campaign would be run can be found by examining the way presidential candidates currently campaign inside battleground states. Longley, Robert. With a popular vote in place, each election win would be decreed a mandate to follow the platform of the winning party. national popular vote plan pros and cons - shipoom.com And that would undermine the legitimacy of the NPV among those people. What Is The District Plan? This Electoral College Reform - Bustle For example, if a state used NPV and voted for candidate A, but candidate B received the most votes nationwide, the state would allocate its presidential electors to candidate B. Because every vote is equal inside Ohio or Florida, presidential candidates avidly seek out voters in small, medium, and large towns. There are a number of pros for this method. 4. Where the National Popular Vote Plan Stands. On average, studies show that falls in line with historical averages showing around 60 percent of eligible voters casting a vote in presidential election years. Bosque de Palabras In 2016, Florida had 29 electoral votes and 9.4 million voters, created a voter value of 0.72. Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact In the 2016 Presidential Election if the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact had been in effect the winner of the national popular vote, Hillary Clinton, would have become president instead of Donald Trump. The votes of those who do not live in closely divided battleground states effectively count less. Unexpected emergencies would be difficult to handle. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among states and the District of Columbia to award their respective electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote of the presidential election. In countries where the concept of popular votes is in place, every vote has an equal weight regarding the election outcome. In the 2016 election, only 58 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. The official 2016 election results from the Electoral College gave Donald J. Trump the victory with 306 electoral votes v. Hillary Clinton's 232 votes. Many Americans are confused about how a win is obtained under these conditions and are on a quest to change this traditional statute. Steve Sisolak vetoed it. PDF The Direct Election Plan - tesd.net Retrieved from https://samploon.com/electoral-college-and-national-popular-vote-pros-and-cons/, Should the Electoral College Be Abolished, Pros for The Electoral College in the United States, Electoral College is Undemocratic but We Have no Better System, The Electoral College Should Be Terminated, The Electoral College Annotated Bibliography. However, in the popular vote, Trump only received 62,984,825 votes against Hillary Clinton's 65,853,516 popular votes. Regional candidates could secure enough votes to win a national election. (LogOut/ Security would be improved across the country. Activating the National Popular Vote compact would reshape our . Con:not Eliminate possibility that loser of the popular vote can still win the electoral vote The Proportional Plan A proposed reform where each presidential candidate would receive the percent of electoral votes that they win from each state Proportional Plan Pro:Possible for loser of popular vote to win presidency. Samploon is a database of free essay samples. cons of the national popular vote plan Congressional District Method - Electoral College Reform - Weebly 1, 2023 at 1:16 PM PST. The compact is designed to ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide is elected president, and it . "The National Popular Vote Plan." Post author: Post published: June 29, 2022 Post category: Uncategorized Post comments: paris apartment eiffel tower view for sale paris apartment eiffel tower view for sale Lastly, the biggest problem that the Electoral College produces is the reality that a persons vote really doesnt matter (Black). When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That could lead to a very bad situation where, instead of the people voting in November to determine who the next president is, one or two states could effectively decide who becomes the next president simply by joining or withdrawing from the NPV Compact and changing the rules on how the votes for president are counted in the next election. A candidate may not have to concentrate anymore, but they may have to move their attention to states such as Texas, New York, California, and Alaska. Battleground states would disappear in U.S. elections. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz often split about 60% of the GOP vote, which allowed Donald Trump to win early primaries with 35% of the vote. This move would ensure that the Presidency would be given to the candidate that received the most popular votes all 50 states and the District of Columbia. tobin james the blend 2017 ; real estate marketing solutions; cons of the national popular vote plan; lassi kefalonia shops cons of the national popular vote plan E pluribus unum -- out of many, one. Without change, a plan for a national popular vote could undermine the