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The problem with the electoral college isn't unequal size of states, it's that deeply blue or red states get hardly any attention from presidential candidates,
by zhyder 7y ago
The problem with the electoral college isn't unequal size of states, it's that deeply blue or red states get hardly any attention from presidential candidates, and any individual's vote in such states doesn't matter much.
Btw check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Intersta... for an interesting hack: not likely to happen, but still 100x more likely than redrawing all state lines
- lotsofpulp 7y agoThe problem is the very existence of the electoral college. If the president was elected by totaling all the votes 1 per person in the nation, then there would be no red state and blue state issues.
- guelo 7y agoBut in that case the real national divide, rural vs cities, would be won in favor of the blues.
- lotsofpulp 7y agoIt would be won in favor of whoever wins the people's votes.
- anfilt 7y agoThis compact is a bad idea for implementing said goal. First an amending the constitution requires 3/4ths of states to agree to an amendment. This would make a fundamental change with less than half of the states. Secondly, it also possibly unconstitutional. Third, it's unenforceable a state can join and if they fail to follow the agreement other members can't do anything. Fourth, due to the questions of constitutionality when this takes effect it's going to leave the result of an election in legal limbo for possibly years. This is a big problem since the president is inaugurated only a few months after the election. Fifth, it easy for other states who are not a member to make it useless. For instances lets say Idaho decides only to publish their their electoral votes, and keep the actually number of votes secret for six months. It is no longer possible to determine who won the popular vote (in a timely manner).
- anfilt 7y agoCould someone respond instead of down voting. There is a reason the legal section is largest section on the Wikipedia article.
- jakeogh 7y agohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZhVq1M3bhs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZhVq1M3bhs
- jakeogh 7y agoOops. Wrong URL. CGP Grey The Sneaky Plan to Subvert the Electoral College for the Next Election: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUX-frlNBJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUX-frlNBJY
- akvadrako 7y agoThe states don't get attention because that's their choice. They could switch to a per-district method like Maine or proportional representation, then it doesn't matter how blue or red they are.
- Redoubts 7y agoThe incentives of the EC lead states to make votes winner take all. You’re gonna have a hard time reversing this without a process that looks a lot like a constitutional amendment.