Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College

New York Times editorial board member Wegman combines in-depth historical analysis and insight into contemporary politics to present a cogent argument that the Electoral College violates America’s “core democratic principles” and should be done away with. According to Wegman, the system of voting for state electors who then cast their ballots for president was established by America’s founders at a time when most citizens were ill-informed about politics and traveling to voting locations was onerous—circumstances that are no longer relevant. He notes that the Constitution’s framers explicitly linked the Electoral College to slavery, and examines elections in which the Electoral College and popular vote winners haven’t matched, including the 1876 contest between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes, the 2000 race between George W. Bush and Al Gore, and President Trump’s 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. Wegman refutes several “myths” about the Electoral College’s potential repeal, including that it can only be done through a constitutional amendment and that small and rural states would lose out if presidents were selected by direct vote. His extensive research and careful consideration of the issue from all angles reveal the current system’s defects, though the path to reform in the face of fierce political opposition remains somewhat unclear. Nevertheless, this urgent and lucidly presented plea for change will resonate with progressives. (Mar.)