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12:07:00 PM EDT
Hearing Tribute -- Tenacious D
Abolish the Electoral College?
The New York Observer runs a commentary on the electoral college (cleverly disguised as a book review) and suggests that the reason the college continues to exist is the dame reason democracy does: Basically, it's a bad system whose only virtue is that it's better than any others.
I think arguing about the electoral college is a little pointless, since getting rid of it will require a constitutional amendment, which means it would need to be ratified by at least 37 state legislatures. The idea that the US states will voluntarily lessen their political influence is, well, optimistic. I'm also old-fashioned and believe that for its flaws, it's not a horrible system generally. But I'd certainly be interested in some alternatives.
I think one useful alternative might be a national ballot similar to the voting system the Worldcon voters use to vote for the Hugo awards (awards for the best science fiction writing in a year): Voters rank the candidates by preference, with the "1" for their first choice, "2" for the second choice and so on (there's also a slot for "none of the above" just in case you don't like any). You rank only the ones you want, or rank them all. Then the votes are collected, and the candidate who has the least number of votes is taken off the list, and his votes given to the candidates who were ranked next by the voters who chose the disqualified candidate first. I think this would be useful because at the end you'd get the candidate most voters were at least okay with, without the rather depressing "either/or" situation that we've got going now. Thoughts on this or any other alternative system?
In the meantime, I find myself obesessively drawn to this site, which shows the day-to-day fluctuations of the expected electoral vote, based on state polls. Today Kerry's up, but just yesterday Bush was up, and who knows who will be up tomorrow. Oy. My ulcer.
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We as state residents would have to convince our elected officials that we need electoral reform. We also need to bring to light that the electoral college:
1. lessens the power of your vote nationally as more state residents vote.
2. Only the percieved battleground states really get the attention of the candidates .
3. Voter interest is diminished when the official vote ignores the support of the minority voters.(the old "My vote dosn't count.") -
I would also like to know what I can do or how I can help to abolish the electoral college. I have looked all over the place and all I can find Is how it works, why it was created, and how it can be abolished by the house and senate. But nothing on what I can do. Someone please help!! I want to make a difference. I want to be herd. I want my voice to count!!!
callmajman5@aol.com -
I would also like to know what I can do or how I can help to abolish the electoral college. I have looked all over the place and all I can find Is how it works, why it was created, and how it can be abolished by the house and senate. But nothing on what I can do. Someone please help!! I want to make a difference. I want to be herd. I want my voice to count!!!
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Someone please tell me what I can do or how I can help to abolish the electoral college! Too many of us are tired of our votes not truly meaning anything!!!
heatherz95@hotmail.com
11/13/04 3:42 PM