Electoral Process and Electoral College: Pros, Cons, and Reform Debate (OCR A-Level Politics): Revision Notes

21.8.1 Electoral Process and Electoral College: Pros, Cons, and Reform Debate

Definition

Key Features of the Electoral College

• Winner-Takes-All System: In 48 states and Washington D.C., the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state takes all of its electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system.
• Faithless Electors: These are electors who do not vote for the candidate they pledged to support. While rare, they have occasionally influenced the final electoral count, though not in 2020.

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed?

The Electoral College has been a subject of debate for many years, with arguments both for and against its continued use.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Electoral College

Disadvantages	Advantages
In 2 of the last 6 elections, the popular vote winner has lost in the electoral college, undermining modern principles of popular sovereignty and the outdated constitution.	The Electoral College ensures that smaller states remain represented, helping federalism by allowing differing electoral procedures in each state.
Excludes third parties from the electoral process as the Electoral College votes are not allocated proportionally, and third-party votes tend to be thinly spread.	The Electoral College guards against the tyranny of the majority nationally. The Founding Fathers were not convinced about the wisdom of popular sovereignty, dispersing power away from the public.
Small states are overrepresented. California's Electoral College votes represent three times as many people as Wyoming's.	No consensus on what should replace the Electoral College. Reforms suggested are difficult to achieve due to the challenge of passing a constitutional amendment. The system benefits the Republican Party, so they would likely block reform, and small states that currently benefit would not want to lose their influence.
Bellwether states are overrepresented, as their votes can change the election. The majority of states are ignored throughout the process. In 2016, the focus was on these states while blue or red states received less attention. This was the same in 2020, where 96% of election campaign events were held in just 12 states, with Pennsylvania and Florida holding over one-third as key swing states.	The Electoral College has produced clear winners, with clear majorities and strong mandates to govern. The use of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) for U.S. elections has resulted in a two-party system and a clear winner. In 2020, the Republican and Democratic parties held 98% of the vote.
Faithless electors exist, which undermines the basic principles of democracy.	The Electoral College system requires candidates to appeal to the whole country, not just a single area. In 2020, Biden's campaign focused on the "blue wall" in the Midwest, and he won these states along with Georgia and Arizona.

Additional Considerations

• Impact on Presidential Elections: The Electoral College has played a crucial role in determining the outcomes of U.S. presidential elections, particularly when the popular vote does not align with the electoral vote, as seen in the 2016 election when Donald Trump won the presidency despite Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote.
• Federalism and State Representation: The Electoral College was designed to ensure that smaller states have a voice in presidential elections, balancing the influence of more populous states. However, this has also led to criticisms that the system overrepresents smaller states and underrepresents larger, more diverse states.
• Reform Efforts: There have been various proposals to reform or abolish the Electoral College, such as the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, where 15 states have agreed to allocate their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. However, such reforms could undermine federalism by centralising electoral power.
• Controversy and Criticism: The Electoral College has faced significant scrutiny, especially following contentious elections. The 2000 election, where the Supreme Court determined the outcome in favour of George W. Bush, highlighted the complexities and potential flaws of the Electoral College system.